Bengaluru, Dec 7 (PTI) Eyeing a return to power, theruling Congress in Karnataka will embark on a series of statewide tours, in the run up to the 2018 assembly polls.
In the first phase, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah willtour about 124 constituencies, predominantly represented byCongress MLAs to launch a series of government programmes fromDecember 13, KPCC chief G Parameshwara said.
Following this, a team led by Pradesh Congress Committee will tour the remaining 100 odd constituencies thatare not represented by the party in the current assembly.
In the second phase, all state Congress leaders including the chief minister together will be touring acrossthe state from March first week, he said.
"Dates are yet to be finalised. It will be partyprogramme," the KPCC chief told reporters here.
BJP state chief B S Yeddyurappa has already embarkedon a state wide tour-- 'Karnataka Parivartana Yatre.'On the other hand, JD(S)' H D Kumaraswamy is visitingparts of the state in a specially designed bus under thecampaign banner 'Kumara Parva'.
Siddaramaiah's state wide tour to launch variousgovernment programmes, where he will be predominantly visitingconstituencies represented by Congress MLAs, has drawn flakfrom opposition parties.
Responding to the allegations that the chief ministerwas touring for party propaganda using public money,Parameshwara clarified that Siddaramaiah will also be visitingconstituencies of other party MLAs.
"Wherever possible, chief minister will also be visiting constituencies of BJP and JDS MLAs," he said.
The KPCC chief also said the party will most probablybegin the process to select candidates in about 15 days byappointing observers.
District in-charge ministers have been directed totake more responsibility in their respective districts.
Responding to a question, he said the party's centralelection committee will decide on tickets to sitting MLAs andthe number of people from one family who can get the ticket.
He also noted that the report on a survey conductedby the party along with confidential report from the districtcommittee is still awaited.
"They will all be considered while selectingcandidates," he said. Congress had earlier announced a survey to collect data to help it select candidates and decide strategy for the 2018 assembly polls.
He asserted that there were no differences betweenhim and the chief minister.
Media reports in this regard were "false",Parameshwara said, adding, "we will tour together and take decisions together.""In the last seven years that I have been PCCPresident, there have been no differences between us. We areworking collectively and are fulfilling our respective responsibilities," he said.PTI KSU RABN.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.