Only a few weeks ago, the Congress Party high command had asked several Ministers in the Siddaramaiah government to be ready to contest in Lok Sabha polls as the party did not have suitable candidates for the parliamentary polls.

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Most of the ministers had been elected just months ago and were clearly unwilling to face another election due to the huge costs involved. Despite being promised that poll expenses would be borne by the party, many of them were not ready to take the plunge; Their disinterest in national politics, and preference for staying in Karnataka,  stemming from pre-poll surveys that indicate the return of the BJP-led NDA Government for the third consecutive time.

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But that hasn’t stopped them from requesting the party national leaders to give tickets to their sons and daughters.

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While Transport and Muzrai Departments Minister Ramalinga Reddy wants a ticket for his daughter and former MLA, Soumya Reddy from Bengaluru South,  Women and Child Welfare Minister Lakshmi Hebbalkar wants a ticket for her son, Mrunal Hebbalkar from Belagavi, Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre for his son from Bidar,  Social Welfare Minister Dr H.C.Mahadevappa  for his son, Subhas Chandra from Chamarajanagar, PWD Minister Satish Jarkiholi for either  his son or daughter to be given a ticket from Belagavi and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah for his son and former MLA Dr Yatindra Siddaramaiah to stand from the Mysore-kodagu seat.

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Initial reports say that Dr Yatindra has now backed out from the race but Lakshmi Hebbalkar has stuck to her demand for the Belagavi ticket for her son Mrunal. Already, her brother has been made MLC thanks to her proximity to national leaders. But this has created rumblings in the Belagavi district Congress unit with local leaders who are loyal to Satish Jarkiholi, urging the high command not to give a ticket to Mrunal as she seems set to race ahead of the hitherto more powerful Satish in state politics. Satish signalled his unease  by staying away from a couple of functions attended by Shivakumar,  the deputy chief Minister who has played mentor.

On ticket for their progeny, AiCC General Secretary and Incharge of Karnataka Randip Singh Surjewala and AICC Organising Secretary K.C.Venugopal have not reacted.

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But on Thursday, KPCC President Shivakumar, without mincing any words, said the ministers have to contest in the coming parliamentary polls and cannot say no. The discussion over the ticket finalisation would be held once the Chief Minister Siddaramaiah arrives in New Delhi on Saturday. The meeting that was to held on Thursday was postponed after the CM expressed his inability to attend due to an important function honouring seers in North Karnataka.