Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)
Bengaluru, Dec 8: Sensing that signals emanating from their different approaches towards election campaigning might harm the party, Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president, Dr G Parameshwar, and chief minister, Siddaramaiah, have decided to put up a show of solidarity and unity by undertaking joint tour of the state since March 1, 2018. Parameshwar clarified that there are no misunderstandings between the two, although both of them are undertaking district tours separately during this month.
Addressing a press conference at the office of Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee hee, Parameshwar clarified that during the seven years he has been the state president of the party, he had never been angry with Siddaramaiah nor had there been any ill-will between the two. The talk of differences which are making the rounds since some days are baseless, he explained.
"Since the last three days, we were holding meetings of front units of the party and district presidents where we had prolonged discussions about preparations for the election. It has been decided to undertake tour of constituencies other than those being visited by the chief minister under the government programme, jointly with the working president of the party. In all possibility, our trip will begin on December 20," he explained.
About 'Mane Manege Congress' programme, Parameshwar said, the party has already completed 86 percent work and the balance would be completed in two weeks. He said that the party units have been directed to undertake various programmes and hold division-wise conventions. However, he clarified that no decision has been taken about issuing tickets to current legislators and children of party leaders. "These decision will be taken at the high command level, and we do not have any objection if our top leadership is in favour of isuing tickets to all the sitting MLAs," he added.
Parameshwar said that he is yet to get report on the survey being conducted by the party about who should be the party candidate for the assembly election. "With the elevation of Rahul Gandhi as party president, our party will be entering a new era. As youngsters will be joining our party in a big way, our power will get further fortified," he added. He dismissed talk of large scale defection of party leaders to other parties.
He called upon BJP leaders, particularly Ananth Kumar Hegde, to exercise restraint when talking derogatorily about Congress leaders, particularly chief minister. He said it does befit the position the leaders presently occupy and advised BJP leaders to have control over their tongues.
"There are talks of BJP creating communal disturbances during the election. The government has taken this information with all seriousness," he explained.