Central leaders to join Cong campaign in Karnataka

Congress in Karnataka today claimed its 60-day “Congress Nadige, Janara Balige” (walk towards people) programme launched on June 15, seeking to revamp the party at grass-root level has evoked an overwhelming response and central leaders would now join it.

AICC general secretary Madhusudan Mistri, in-charge of party affairs in Karnataka and AICC secretary Sanjay Nirupam would participate in the programme from tomorrow to July 7 in Bidar, Gulbarga, Bijapur, Bagalkot, Gadag, Belgaum and Hubli-Dharwad districts, KPCC President G Parameshwara said. Parameshwara said he would attend the rallies in these districts with its leaders in the Assembly and Council, Siddaramaiah and Motamma.

On July 9, the KPCC Coordination Committee will meet here to decide strategies in its fight against the BJP government and preparations for the coming Assembly polls, he told reporters. Parameshwara demanded that Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa lower taxes on petroleum products and LPG as in West Bengal and ease the burden on consumers, who have been hit hard by recent hike in prices of diesel, kerosene and LPG. “CM claims the state’s coffers are full. He should extend the tax sop to the people,” he said.