A year ahead of the Assembly elections in Karnataka, the Congress is all set to launch a massive campaign in the state where the ruling BJP is going through a major political crisis over corruption charges and power struggle within the party. Apart from the tours planned by the state Congress leaders, AICC president Sonia Gandhi is going to visit Karnataka on April 28, which is expected to galvanise the party’s activities in the state.
In her one-day trip to Karnataka, which comes after a long gap, Mrs Gandhi will be attending functions at 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, Lingayat, which happens to be the stronghold of former chief minister B.S. Yeddyurappa, who is also likely to attend the same function at a different occasion.
Mrs Gandhi on Friday laid out a plan of action for the first phase of the Congress’ campaign against the BJP in a crucial meeting with Karnataka Opposition leader Siddaramaiah and Congress chief in the state G. Parameshwara. She has suggested the state leaders to travel the drought-hit talukas in the state in three groups, led by Mr Siddaramaiah, Mr Parameshwara and the Leader of Opposition in the Upper House C. Motamma respectively.
Even though the state leaders had earlier planned this tour, which will be kicked off on April 10 as a statewide tour, Mrs Gandhi advised them to first concentrate on the 123 draught-hit talukas and to 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 Parameshwara described Mrs Gandhi’s visit as a kind of “revival” of the Congress Party in the state.