BENGALURU: Congress leaders, led by KPCC chief Dr G Parameshwara, will visit over 100 constituencies where the party candidates lost during the 2013 polls. The yathra is expected to begin from the third week of December and will be inaugurated by AICC Vice President Rahul Gandhi. This will be Rahul’s first event as Congress Chief, as he is expected to take over the top position in the second week of December.
Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Parameshwara said, “Chief Minister Siddaramiah will start his district tour on December 13, covering over 124 assembly constituencies. This will be a state government and will also include a few BJP or JD(S) constituencies. However, I, along with other Congress leaders, will embark on another tour, visiting 100 Assembly constituencies.”
‘’During the nomination filing for the AICC president election held recently, we had requested Rahul Gandhi to launch this event. He has given a nod. We are yet to finalise the date,’’ he said.
Parameshwara also explained about the three-day meeting with AICC in charge (Karnataka) K C Venugopal.
“We discussed election strategies and assembly constituencies. As on today, in Karnataka, 54,261 booth committees have been constituted. The success story of Congress will reach every single person in Karnataka through the committee members,” he said.
When asked about how many sitting MLAs will get ticket to contest the upcoming election, he said they work under guidelines framed by the AICC central election committee. “It will be discussed and decided,’’ he said. He gave a similar answer when asked about candidates from the same family contesting in the Assembly polls.
‘CM and I will travel together in March’
Stressing that there is no difference between him and CM, Parameshwara said, “Earlier, we have travelled together and have taken decisions together. During the first week of March, CM and I, along with other leaders, will travel together across the State.”
‘BJP’s statements condemnable’
Parameshwara said, “The language used by BJP leaders is not acceptable. Union Minister Ananthkumar Hegde’s statement on CM that the latter ‘does not hesitate to lick someone’s boot for the votes’ is condemnable. As a leader, he should know to hold his tongue,’’ he said.