Bengaluru: At least 20 senior Congress MLAs have secured an appointment with vice-president Rahul Gandhi during his two-day visit to Karnataka beginning Friday, but are unlikely to get an opportunity to meet him because of his packed schedule. According to the schedule released by the Chief Minister’s office here on Thursday, Mr Gandhi has earmarked time after 5.30 pm for these appointments.
Sources in the party, however, said Mr Gandhi would first meet CEOs of start-ups at Kumara Krupa Guesthouse followed by a discussion with senior leaders of Scheduled Castes to discuss about events to mark the 125th birth anniversary of Dr B.R. Ambedkar. “Both these meetings might last longer than expected, so he could be hard-pressed for time to meet any one else. But, the MLAs sought an appointment which has been approved of by Mr Gandhi’s New Delhi office,” sources added.
Mr Gandhi, however, is likely to meet senior leaders of the party at an exclusive enclosure at Palace Grounds. “After addressing gram panchayat members, he is scheduled to attend a meeting of executive committee of KPCC. During the intervening period, he may meet some select leaders at a small building inside Palace Grounds. We know that the building was booked but we are not sure what programme could take place. We presume that he may meet senior leaders here,” sources added.
Another reason why these senior legislators could miss an opportunity to meet him would be a thumb-rule set by Mr Gandhi in other states as well. “Wherever he went after 2014 Lok Sabha elections, he did not meet MLAs. He told them to meet party general secretaries first and discuss their problems,” sources added.
