Bengaluru: Sending a message loud and clear to party leaders and workers, AICC general secretary K.C. Venugopal on Monday asserted that his team will be constantly stationed in Bengaluru to “listen to and solve” problems that come up ahead of the 2018 Assembly elections.
Addressing party leaders during his maiden visit to the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee(KPCC) office here after taking over as the party in-charge of Karnataka, Venugopal said, “I know there are problems here like they exist elsewhere in the country. I am here to solve your problems.”
He added that each and every party worker needs a focal point where he or she can express freely their wishes and he would like to be that point.
“Let me remind you that I am here to assist you, not advise you. Therefore, I will be regularly present in Bengaluru or else, one of my team members will surely be there,” he said. According to him, All India Congress Committee vice-president Rahul Gandhi had given them a brief pep talk before picking the team for Karnataka.
“He has directed us to be stationed in Bengaluru all the time, as party workers should not feel they have been left to fend for themselves. I and my team assured him that his advice will be implemented in letter and spirit,” he declared before party leaders.
Dr G chants collective leadership mantra again
Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president Dr G. Parameshwar on Monday reiterated that the Congress would face the 2018 Assembly elections under a collective leadership as this was the party's tradition for several years now.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a programme to welcome the new AICC general secretary in-charge of Karnataka K.C. Venugopal, Dr Parameshwar said, “The Congress has always believed in the concept of collective leadership and it has been practised for decades now. We will adopt the same strategy in 2018 too.” According to him, Mr Venugopal's appointment has brought lot of cheer among young and enthusiastic leaders of the party. “He is recognised for his organisational skills as he had grown with the party since his NSUI days,” he said.
To a question, Dr Parameshwar retorted that a change of PCC president is the prerogative of party central leaders. “I am a loyal party worker, so positions hardly matter as I believe in the adage that hard work pays. We have just 331 days left to face the big challenge of bringing the party back to power. I am of the opinion that irrespective of the party decision on KPCC president, I will continue to work with the new team.” he declared.
