Sonia to visit state to galvanise cadre
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A year ahead of the Assembly election in Karnataka, the Congress is all set to launch a massive campaign in the state where the ruling BJP is facing a major political crisis over corruption charges and a power struggle within the party.
Apart from the tours planned by state Congress leaders, AICC president Sonia Gandhi is planning to visit Karnataka on April 28, which is expected to galvanise the party cadre. During her one-day trip to Karnataka, which comes after a long gap, Mrs Gandhi will be attending functions at the famous Siddaganga Math in Tumkur, organised to mark the 105th birthday of the math's seer Sri Shivakumara Swamiji.
The math is affiliated to the majority community in the state, Lingayats, to which former Chief Minister and BJP strongman B.S. Yeddyurappa belongs. Mrs Gandhi on Friday laid out a plan of action for the first phase of the Congress's campaign against the BJP at a crucial meeting with Karnataka Opposition leader Siddaramaiah and the Congress chief in the state Dr G. Parameshwar. She has suggested to the state leaders to travel to the drought-hit taluks in three groups, led by Mr Siddaramaiah, Mr Parameshwar and leader of the Opposition in the Upper House C. Motamma.
Even though the state leaders had earlier planned this tour, which will begin on April 10, as a state-wide tour, Mrs Gandhi advised them to first concentrate on the 123 drought-hit taluks and extend the tour to all assembly segments in the state at a later stage in May. Speaking to this newspaper, both Mr Siddaramaiah and Mr Parameshwar said Mrs Gandhi's visit would lead to the revival of the Congress. The political system in Karnataka has been “spoiled”, they said while referring to the corruption charges against the BJP leaders.
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