Congress gears up for polls in Mysore

KPCC's campaign has already covered 26 districts in the state.

Anticipating Karnataka Assembly elections in May, the Mysore city and rural district units of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee are gearing up to launch their campaigns in Mysore district.

While AICC General Secretary Rahul Gandhi scheduled to hold roadshows during his visit to Karnataka from March 23 to March 27 and visit Mysore too, the two Mysore District Congress Committees are briskly preparing for its 'Janandholana' convention on March 16.

It is mobilising party workers and supporters to make the convention an 'unprecedented show' as Congress leader Siddaramaiah put it on Thursday at a press meet here.

"It will be more or less the launch of the election campaign. We will use the opportunity to explain to the people the failures of the Janata Dal and BJP coalition governments, including corruption and maladministration. We will highlight the pro-Karnataka central and state budget provisions and reply to Opposition criticisms. We will enthuse the workers to work with a new vigour so that the Congress comes to power on its own in the state," former deputy chief minister said.

The statewide 'Janandholana' campaign of the KPCC has already covered 26 districts. However, the Mysore convention has assumed significance as it is the first after the two budgets. In this background, Siddaramaiah said they hoped to mobilise at least one lakh of people for the March 16 convention and make it an unprecedented show.

After the Mysore campaign, the Congress will hold its conventions in Mandya and Kolar this month alone and prepare for the launch of the official poll campaign under the leadership of Rahul.

During his visit, Rahul Gandhi is expected to address the party's youth wing convention in Bangalore on March 27. Dismissing reports of dissensions within the Mysore units, Siddaramaiah said the Congress believed in joint leadership.

"We will go to the elections with this spirit. Keeping this in mind, we have invited all the state and important national leaders, including former Maharashtra Governor S M Krishna," he said.

Besides a host of prominent leaders, incharge of the state Congress affairs from the AICC, Prithiviraj Chauhan, is also expected to attend the March 16 convention.