Congress readies with Target-20 plan for Bengaluru

Sources say AICC state in-charge KC Venugopal made a presentation on the plan to Rahul Gandhi when he was in the city recently.
Chamarajpet MLA Zameer Ahmed Khan and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah at programme to felicitate Haj pilgrims at Town hall in Bengaluru on Friday | NAGESH POLALI
Chamarajpet MLA Zameer Ahmed Khan and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah at programme to felicitate Haj pilgrims at Town hall in Bengaluru on Friday | NAGESH POLALI

BENGALURU: Determined to end BJP’s huge presence in Bengaluru, the ruling Congress has drawn up an action plan to win at least 20 of the 28 seats in Bengaluru Urban district in the next Assembly election.
Fielding minority community candidates in at least four constituencies (Hebbal, Shivajinagar, Shantinagar, Chamarajpet), greater representation for youth in ticket distribution, getting Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to spend more time in reaching out to Bengalureans, fielding senior leaders’ children in a few tough constituencies are among the suggestions that figure prominently in a report said to have been prepared by AICC General Secretary in-charge of party affairs in Karnataka, K C Venugopal.

Presently, BJP has 12 MLAs from the city while Congress has 13 and JD(S) three. BJP has also won all the three Lok Sabha seats in Bengaluru Urban district.According to Congress sources, Venugopal made a presentation to Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi on his plans to win the polls during the latter’s recent visit to Bengaluru to inaugurate Indira Canteens.

The green signal for induction of rebel JD(S) MLAs Zameer Ahmed Khan (Chamarajpet) and Akhanda Srinivas Murthy (Pulakeshi Nagar) is also being factored in the calculations as they would contest the next election as Congress candidates. Youngsters, especially the kin of a few prominent leaders, are being seen as good bets to win a few tough seats in the city.

A KPCC functionary told Express that Venugopal’s report has suggested fielding Rehan Baig, son of Urban Development minister Roshan Baig, from Shivajinagar and Roshan from Hebbal, which is now held by BJP.

Similarly, Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy could be suggested to move to Jayanagar (BJP) constituency to enable his daughter to contest from Reddy’s turf BTM Layout. In Chikpet, Venugopal is said to have suggested giving the ticket to MLA R V Devaraj’s son.

MLC Byrathi Suresh, who is keen to contest from Hebbal, could be asked to take the plunge from Yelahanka if the party accepts the recommendations, sources said.

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