While Surayya Abrar assumed charge as President of Madikeri Urban Development Authority (MUDA) on Monday, several senior Congress leaders expressed their displeasure over the appointment.

Some members of city unit of Congress Party, decided to tender their resignation to the party positions, claiming that the post of MUDA President has not been given to native members of Congress. They claimed of the alleged involvement of a former MP behind the appointment of the new President. The former MP has taken the decision without the consent of the local leaders, they said.

Names of senior leaders T M Ayyappa, V P Suresh and Chummi Devaiah were apparently heard for the post of the MUDA President. But, the former MP has selected a candidate who had lost deposit in the CMC elections held last year, local Congress leaders said.

The position of MUDA President was lying vacant for two years, ever since Congress government came into power in the state. Local leaders in Madikeri unit of Congress  had requested the senior partymen to appoint a senior Congress leader in Madikeri, to the post. A twelve-member committee was also constituted towards the selection of the posts of Presidents of other authorities, including Madikeri Urban Development Authority. The district Congress had recommended the names of T M Ayyappa, V P Suresh and Chummi Devaiah. But the list of the names was subject to changes in the last moment, due to the intervention of the former MP, they said.

Congress leaders said CMC President’s post has already been given to  a  lady belonging to a particular community and now, the MUDA President’s post has also gone to a lady belonging to the same community. The members belonging to other communities have been neglected, they added.

A Senior leader opined that the Congress has been giving priority to candidates from a particular community, to prevent erosion in its vote bank, as during last CMC elections, SDPI had earned much votes than Congress.

A discomfited aspirant said the current development will affect the results of the upcoming Gram Panchayat elections.

Delegation to KPCC

The Congress leaders in the city have been reportedly planning to take a delegation to KPCC, Bengaluru, to urge to withhold the new appointment and to give an opportunity to a senior leader from the party.

‘Discomfort is natural’

Speaking to reports, newly appointed MUDA President Surayya Abrar said  it was obvious for Congress leaders to be disappointed and that things will be sorted out eventually.
She meanwhile thanked former M P H Vishwanath, district Congress unit President B T Pradip, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and KPCC President G Parameshwar, who made possible her appointment for the MUDA President’s post.