Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (MS)

Bengaluru, Feb 21: Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president DK Shivakumar has said that the party would welcome political leaders who had once left it and joined the Opposition. "I am giving an open invitation to those who want to join Congress. There will be no conditions for those who wish to join. We will take anyone who agrees with the ideology of the party. We will give an opportunity to those who had left the party also," Shivakumar said.

"We will take anyone into the party without any condition. A committee will be formed in this regard. Those who left Congress can also return," he added. By saying so, Shivakumar has indirectly invited those who left Congress and joined BJP during the collapse of the coalition government.

DK Shivakumar

Dhruva Narayana Reddy and Ramalinga Reddy took oath as new executive presidents of KPCC. Speaking on the occasion, Shivakumar said, "Workers of our party shout slogans and state that I am the next CM of Karnataka. But I do not want that position. For me, the most important thing is to bring Congress back into power in Karnataka." With this statement, Shivakumar indirectly mocked the faction of close aides of former CM Siddaramaiah.

"Congress party has to be brought back into power in Karnataka. When ideology and philosophy are forgotten, Congress loses. We have to fight now. We should stop seeking opportunities. The BJP government itself has given us the opportunity and now we have to utilize the same. Opportunity is there in front of us. People of the state are frustrated because of the decisions taken by the BJP government. We have to turn the failures of the BJP government into opportunities for us. People are distraught due to Covid-19 and CAA. We have to instil confidence in them. Farmers, labourers and tradesmen are facing dire situations. People from different walks of life are suffering. We have to find solutions to these issues. We have to continuously fight against the BJP government in the state. We need to bring a new change in the government," said Shivakumar, addressing the party workers.

Shivakumar in a veiled attack on Siddaramaiah said, "No MLAs or eminent leaders in the party can hold party meetings at home. Meetings are to be held at the party office.

"We have to stand amongst people and fight. At least a 2 km foot march needs to be done every day. We will send a team to identify the leaders who will stand with the public and fight for them. Only such people will get tickets from the party for elections," concluded Shivakumar.