Congress doesn’t need to hijack candidates: DK Shivakumar

Bengaluru: KPCC president D.K. Shivakumar on October 9 said that Congress welcomes anyone who voluntarily accepts the ideals of the party and does not need to hijack candidates.

He made these remarks when asked about the series of tweets made by JD(S) leader H.D. Kumaraswamy on October 9 criticizing the congress leader for his “lies” and “immoral” comments about JD(S) leader M C Managuli.

“There must also be a limit to lying. It is my opinion that it is politically and personally unethical to mislead people. KPCC president DK Sivakumar’s blatant lies have slandered the late leader MC Managuli’s image,” the tweet read.

In the tweets, Kumaraswamy had said that it was a “blatant lie” that 15 days before his death the late Managuli took his son Ashok Managuli to the Congress camp with a request to induct him into the party cadre.

Replying to HDK’s remarks, Shivakumar said it was an open secret that the incident happened. “It is true that Managuli came and met us. I don’t need to lie about this,” he said adding that he was not upset with Kumaraswamy’s hurtful remarks.

The death of JD(S) MLA Managuli had vacated the Sindagi assembly seat. Now the congress has fielded his eldest son Ashok Managuli from this seat in the upcoming assembly byelections.

Clarifying that the meeting with Managuli did not occur exactly 15 days before his death, Shivakumar further elaborated that the time period indicated was a rough estimate at best. “I did not count the days with a calendar,” he remarked.

Ashok Mangauli as well as Siddramiah can attest to this fact, he said.