‘No infighting in 2013 poll’

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The birth anniversary function of former Prime Minister late Rajiv Gandhi and former CM late D. Devraj Urs provided an opportunity to Congress leaders to do soul-searching on the party’s current plight in Karnataka. Senior leaders including Union minister for labour, Mallikarjun Kharge, opposition leader in the Assembly, Siddaramaiah and film star-turned politician Ambarish blamed the infighting among the party top brass for its woes and said that unless leaders stood united, the party would not do well in the next Assembly elections.

Setting the tone for a debate on Congress prospects in the next polls, Mr Kharge, who was KPCC president during the 2008 assembly elections, in an emotional speech, said: “In 2008, our party leaders worked against one another and ensured the defeat of many of our candidates. As many as 34 candidates lost because of this. Had we worked together then, the BJP would not have come to power. Now, many of our leaders are getting a false sense of invincibility that the party cannot exist without them. This is very sad. Anyone of you can become the Chief Minister but please bring the party to power first," Mr Kharge said. Ridiculing leaders nursing the desire to become chief minister, Mr Kharge said they should focus on bringing the party to power first before nursing such dreams. "If you keep your home intact, then you can think of having a luxury bedroom. It makes no sense to spruce up the bedroom if you lose the home where you are staying," he said while stressing the need to win the polls before aspiring for top posts like that of CM.

Mr Siddaramaiah said the party stood a bright chance of coming to power in 2013. "If we stand united, we can become a formidable political force. In 2008, the infighting among us ensured that we did not come to power. We cannot repeat the same mistake," he added.