No-trust vote: Congress leaders blame Ugrappa for the loss of face

No-trust vote was passed against Legislative Council chairperson DH Shankarmurthy Ugrappa had alleged that Shankarmurthy of nepotism and corruption Now, Congress leaders are up in arms against Ugrappa for the failure

After the ruling party Congress suffered a loss of face during the no-confidence motion moved to unseat Legislative Council Chairperson DH Shankaramurthy, the Congress leaders are now holding VS Ugrappa for it.

At least eight Congress leaders have signed a letter - addressed to Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president G Parameshwar - blaming Ugrappa and others for the embarrassment caused to the party. The issue may take a serious note as both Assembly and Council leaders have joined hands against Ugrappa. While eight legislators - including T Somashekhar, Shantanagowda and Shadakshari - have written a letter to Parameshwar, couple of other leaders have expressed their dissatisfaction over the way things turned out during the no-confidence motion.

The no-trust vote against Council chairperson DH Shankaramurthy was demanded by Ugrappa alleging the latter of nepotism, corruption and partisan behaviour. Ugrappa had also complained that Shankarmurthy disobeyed the rules of the chair and the values put down by the Constitution. While 36 voted in favour of no-trust, 37 voted against it causing a loss of face for the Congress as the JD(S) took the sides of BJP in the 75-member Karnataka Legislative Council.

And now, legislators are of the opinion that this was the result of lack of planning and strategising by Ugrappa. They wanted the Congress High Command to take action against Ugrappa, party's chief whip Ivan D'Souza, HM Revanna and Abdul Jabbar, reports Kannada Prabha.

Had the party entrusted Energy Minister DK Shivakumar with the no-trust vote, things would have turned out in the party's favour, claim many. "At least the party should not give Ugrappa such responsibilities from henceforth," the legislators have urged.