Kundgol, Chincholi must for Congress: KC Venugopal

Bengaluru: Congress general secretary, K.C. Venugopal on Sunday took stock of the party’s preparations for the crucial by-elections in two assembly seats - Chincholi and  Kundgol.

Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, a senior leader observed that Mr Venugopal arrived in the state with a specific agenda to ensure a Congress victory in both seats. “Winning  these seats has become a do or die battle for the Congress as the coalition partners have only a slender majority in the Assembly. The Congress is under severe duress as it knows that it may have to face two more Assembly by-elections – one in Bhalki in Bidar represented by KPCC working president Eshwar Khandre and the other in Bytrayanapura represented by Krishna Byre Gowda – if both of them win the Lok Sabha elections. Therefore, Mr Venugopal arrived here to take stock of the situation,” the source explained.

The source added that another factor worrying Mr Venugopal is the friction between the coalition partners. "Congress leaders claim that Mr Kumaraswamy is at the Congress party's mercy, while JD(S) leaders lose no opportunity to boast how Congress Legislature Party leader, Siddarmaiah failed in the 2018 Assembly polls," the source said and added that this on-going exchange of words between both parties is creating more harm than good.

“Mr Venugopal is learnt to have asked Congress leaders to refrain from making any insinuating remarks against Mr Kumaraswamy,” the source claimed.