As the ensuing Assembly polls in Karnataka is crucial for the ruling Congress, party vice-president Rahul Gandhi, who is visiting Bengaluru on Monday, is working out a strategy for the polls. Rahul, who is visiting the city after a long gap, will address the newly constituted Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) and discuss poll strategy to take on the BJP.
A senior Congress functionary told The Pioneer that the Congress vice-president was keen on a strategy to be discussed with the leaders and wants all the factions to work with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to corner the BJP.
Addressing a press conference in Bengaluru on Sunday Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president G Parameshwara said Congress vice-president would address the general body meeting of the KPCC at Jnana Jyothi auditorium in the city. He said the party chief would address over 1,500 congress functionaries , Ministers, MPs, legislators, ZP members and others ahead of the Assembly polls. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, AICC general secretary in-charge of Karnataka KV Venugopal and other senior leaders would be part of this meeting which is expected to work out a strategy for the ensuing polls.
He said “Rahul Gandhi would address us on the challenges before Congress both at the national and State level. He is also likely to spell out the road map to take on the Modi Governments anti-people policies.”
“He will also focus on the need to strengthen the party in the State with the Assembly polls scheduled in March-April next year,” he added.
Rahul Gandhi is also scheduled to attend a programme organised to release the National Herald’s commemorative publication India at cross roads: 70 years of independence, in the morning.
Meanwhile, Kannada organsiations have called for a Karnataka bandh on Monday to protest against Government’s apathy to resolve the dispute over the sharing of Mahadayi river water with Goa and ensure drinking water to a few parched districts of north Karnataka. The pro-Kannada organisations are also demanding loan wavier to farmers.
Siddaramaiah, who is playing appeasement politics to the hilt, has been declared by the Congress party as the Chief Ministerial candidate to take on the BJP.
Karnataka is crucial for both the Congress and the BJP and Congress wants to retain power to build image of the party which has taken a beating after the successive defeats in the elections across the country. BJP inturn is chanting the mantra of mission 150 as declared by party chief Amit Shah to enter the South keeping lingayat strongman BS Yeddyurappa as the hit man.
However, both the parties are gearing up for elections. The BJP is also consolidating Dalits and minorities as strategy to destabilise the Congress vote bank politics. The JD(S) of Deve gowda is expected to play a crucial role in case of a hung Assembly.