Senior Congressman and former chief minister of Karnataka, M. Veerappa Moily, stated today that he has no regrets about leaving electoral politics because the party has given him everything.
The former union minister was eager to run in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections from Chikballapur, where he had won the parliamentary elections in 2009 and 2014 but lost in 2019. However, he was not given the ticket.
“It served as a suitable excuse for me to step down from electoral politics.” The 84-year-old claimed he quickly complied with the Congress’s central leadership’s request to renounce his claim, noting that other party leaders of a similar age, such as M. Mallikarjun Kharge and Sonia Gandhi, are also not running this time.
A day after declaring his retirement from electoral politics, Mr. Moily told the Press Trust of India here, “I would have won in Chikballapur again this time, noting that he had continued to nurture the constituency and that it was difficult to cut off his relationships with the people of the segment.”
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He emphasized that the party’s decision to not field him had not demoralized him, adding that he had always followed the decisions made by the high command.
“I do not want to give the impression that I am avaricious when it comes to positions of authority or power. I am going to keep working for the party. I am not going to run for office. I will keep working for and supporting the party, Mr. Moily declared.
He recounted how, despite coming from a “very microscopic community,” he had won six straight Assembly elections, been appointed minister, received important portfolios, and eventually rose to the position of chief minister.
Mr. Moily pointed out that he was appointed minister and given the chance to oversee six portfolios during UPA II, which was led by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
He had previously held the position of AICC in-charge of several states, including Tamil Nadu, Kerala, the then-undivided Andhra Pradesh, and Assam.
“I had fun in every role. I have received everything from the party. I am glad to be leaving (politically). I have no regrets at all,” he declared, adding that he will always be appreciative to Manmohan Singh, the late Rajiv Gandhi, the late Indira Gandhi, and Sonia Gandhi for granting him “these positions” and having faith in him to handle party matters.
Mr. Moily promised to support the party’s candidates wherever the party requests him to, including in the Lok Sabha segments of Dakshina Kannada, Udupi-Chikmagalur, and Chikballapur.
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