Pics: Umesh Marpalli
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (MS)

Udupi, Sep 25: "Congress party will be collecting funds from public throughout the country inorder to strengthen the party as well as to meet the expenses of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. This Lok Sampark Abhiyan is going to be held from October 2 to November 19," said P C Vishnunathan, AICC secretary.

Vishnunathan was speaking to the leaders and activists of the party on Monday, September 24 at the Ajjarkad District Congress Bhavan in the city.

Continuing his speech, Vishnunathan said, "Congress has three important agenda in mind like show of strength, attracting and nominating voters in the age group of 18 to 21 and Lok Sampark Abhiyan and has already started to work in this direction. Congress is having shortage of funds in order to bear the expenses of the upcoming elections. Adani and Ambani are there to fund the expenses for BJP. BJP also has money from the several crores scam of Rafale deal. Congress has decided to collect money from the public instead of seeking funds from the corporates. We will provide receipt for all the funds that will be collected. Everything will be transparent."

"Out of the total amount that will be collected from the public, 50% will be for AICC, 15% each will go for state and district Congress and 20% will be distributed to block Congress. We will assign coordinators in every booth and each coordinator will be given the responsibility of collecting the funds from 25 houses. They will be given coupons worth Rs 100, 500 and 1000 and also leaflets to give the same to every house," Vishnunathan added.

Vishnunanthan further said, "Coordinators, who are assigned specific houses in every block will also convince the inmates of the house about the projects implemented by the coalition government and the failure of the central government."

Vishnanathan also expressed his appreciation for the successful Bharath Bandh that was held in the city against the Rafale scam.

Speaking on the occasion, Janaradhan Tonse, district Congress president, said, "From October 2 till the end of the month of October, coordinators have to be identified and activists have to be recruited to the party. On Sunday, September 23, Pradesh Congress Committee has given stern notice in order to organize and restructure the block Congress with the inclusion of youth leaders who are in continuous contact with the public."
 
Former minister Vinay Kumar Sorake, former MLA Gopal Bhandary, G A Bava, B Narasimha Murthy, Mamata Gatty, Naveen D'Souza, M S Mohammed, Kallige Tharanath Shetty, Krishnaraja Saralaya, Divakar Shetty Kaup, Ashok Kodavoor, Manoj, Ismail Athradi, Yatish Karkera, Satish Amin Padukere, Nithyananda Shetty, Shivaram Shetty, Sujir Hegde, Neerekrishna Shetty, Sudhakar Kotian, Sanjeev Shetty, Geeta Wagle, Harish Kini and Naveenchandra Shetty were present.