This year’s summer is likely to be more scorching than ever for Chief Minister Siddaramiah and other Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee members as the high command wants state leaders to take out a padayatra in all Lok Sabha constituencies before the polls.
AICC vice-president Rahul Gandhi, who has been addressing rallies and taking out road shows across the country, wants Congress men to counter the ‘Narendra Modi wave’ by taking matters into their own hands.
The high command feels a padayatra will bring voters close to the party. Sonia Gandhi wants state leaders to apprise citizens about the 10-year-long UPA rule, the programmes taken up by the Centre and its vision for the future. Party workers have been asked to beat the drum using the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, Rajiv Gandhi Housing Scheme, RTI Act, Food Security Bill, Forest Rights Act and Right to Education Act.
Leaders Disagree
Some Congress leaders feel that the proposed padayatra is untimely given the rising temperature, especially in North Karnataka and districts like Kolar, Chitradurga, Tumkur and Chamarajnagar. A senior Congress leader said teams of party workers should instead address public meetings in all panchayats and towns. KPCC chief G Parameshwar said a team would be constituted and leaders assigned to all constituencies.