The Congress, which is clearly hoping to score big in Karnataka in the coming Lok Sabha elections, appears to be making an early start in preparing for them.
AICC chairperson Sonia Gandhi, who is expected to visit the state on September 30, is scheduled to not only address a public function organised by the state Congress in Mandya, but also hold discussions with senior state leaders on the fast approaching polls.
The party has reportedly set its sights on winning at least 22 of the 28 parliamentary seats from the state considering the Congress wave seen in the recent Assembly polls here. Congress leaders see Mrs Gandhi’s visit as important also because it is her first to Karnataka since Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi was declared the BJP’s prime ministerial candidate. Congress spokesperson T.S. Satyananda, however, said Mrs Gandhi is paying the state a courtesy visit to thank the people of Karnataka for keeping faith with the party and giving it a clear majority both in the Assembly elections and the Mandya and Bengaluru parliamentary bypolls.