Rahul Gandhi gives wake-up call to KPCC leaders

BENGALURU: Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi on Thursday asked party leaders to quell indiscipline in many district units as part of the strategy to get battle ready in the run up to next year’s elections to the Legislative Assembly. 

During his two-hour long meeting with top leaders —party general secretary in-charge of Karnataka K.C. Venugopal, CM Siddaramaiah, senior leaders M Mallikarjun Kharge and M Veerappa Moily, KPCC president Dr G Parameshwar and working presidents Dinesh Gundu Rao and S.R. Patil—Mr Gandhi spoke of the need for portraying a picture of unity across the state and therefore stressed the need for these leaders to tackle the indiscipline in 6-7 districts in order to ensure a good performance in the polls. Besides, he told the leaders to spur prospective candidates into action so that they address meetings and take up other activities to connect with voters well in advance rather than await an announcement on the date of polls. Such candidates should also highlight achievements of the state government during the last four-and-half years and get party workers to shift gears and get into poll mode immediately.  

Meanwhile, sources in the party said a majority of the MLAs would be fielded by the party and therefore they should set off early to create a positive impression about the Congress government. Soon after the meeting, KPCC president Dr Parameshwar told the media the elections would be contested under the leadership of Mr Siddaramaiah. “How the party should face the elections, what should be the strategy - all this was discussed in the meeting. Some suggestions have also been given,” he said adding the KPCC  updated the state unit’s preparedness for elections and shared information on the work done by both the party and the state government in Karnataka.

On the issue of delay in distribution of tickets to candidates, he said, “We discussed all this in the meeting. This is part of our strategy. We do it as per our convenience,” he added.

Dr Parameshwar ruled out differences with the CM. After two months, a similar meeting would be convened to discuss the poll strategy. Party workers would distribute booklets on achievement of the Congress government and distribute them to about 1.10 crore households, he added.