Cong Prez to decide future action after 2 state leaders resign

As uncertainty looms large over the Karnataka Congress with two of its top leaders- President and CLP leader resigning after the assembly bypolls rout, AICC General Secretary K C Venugopal on Tuesday said the party's national President will decide on the next course of action.

"Actually it is good in politics to take the moral responsibility of the defeat (and to resign), because this defeat is disappointing," he said.

Speaking to reporters in Delhi, he accused the BJP of using money, muscle power and the government machinery during the bypolls, which led to the Congress' debacle.

"But debacle is a debacle. They have taken moral responsibility... it is well and good. I appreciate their stand. Definitely the Congress President will take a decision on what next," he added.

Congress Legislature Party leader Siddaramaiah and state Congress chief Dinesh Gundu Rao on Monday quit their posts soon after the party's drubbing.

The party won only two seats, as against 12 it held of the 15 which went to the bypolls on December 5.

Both tendered their resignations to Congress President Sonia Gandhi, "citing unsatisfactory results."
Patil and G Parameshwara are seen as key contenders against Siddaramaiah for the post of CLP leader and leader of the Opposition