MYSURU: Congress leader in Lok Sabha M Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday emphasized the need to win the coming zilla and taluk panchayat polls in order to implement all welfare schemes of the government and help the party retain power during Assembly polls in 2018.
Addressing party leaders and workers here, Mr Kharge said the Congress pioneered de-centralisation of power and strengthening of gram panchayats, but the Bharatiya Janata Party was trying to keep the illiterate away from power.
“In a country where 50 per cent of the people are poor, in Rajasthan and Haryana the minimum qualification to contest elections is matriculation and Class 8 for SC/ST candidates. This only reveals the mentality of leaders of the BJP. If the BJP wins, dictatorship will prevail,” he added.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said: “We have five to fifteen aspirants for certain taluk panchayat and zilla panchayat seats in some places. But, the Bharatiya Janata Party and Janata Dal (Secular) do not have candidates at all in some places. All have the right to ask for tickets but we can give only one ticket. The rest should work honestly for the victory of candidate of the party’s choice.”
