MANGALURU: Hinting that young leaders will be accommodated during an imminent revamp of the Congress, from block-level to AICC, former Union minister M Veerappa Moily said on Saturday the party will pull out all the stops to prevent the BJP from wresting power in Karnataka in next year’s elections to the Legislative Assembly.
He told the media here: “The BJP’s efforts to grab power will not work here (in Karnataka). Be it Mr Amit Shah or many such leaders, they cannot grab this (Karnataka) from us. We also have to win the Lok Sabha elections in 2019, so there is a need to prepare a roadmap. Young and active members will be given importance. We do not need figurehead office bearers, but those who will be accountable and responsible. We will reorganise the party in three months and pave the path for victory.”
When asked whether Chief Minister Siddaramaiah would lead the party in next Assembly elections, Mr Moily said that the leader would have to take the responsibility of party’s victory. “He is the Chief Minister and our leader. He has to accept the responsibility and ensure the party’s victory in the next Assembly election,” he added.
On the demand for a Dalit Chief Minister, Mr Moily said the state needs a progressive leader. “We are an inclusive party and not restricted to any caste or community. The BJP is trying to divide people,” he said adding it was common for leaders of all castes and communities to demand the top post for their representative.
He said former external affairs minister S M Krishna’s defection to the BJP made no difference as was evident in bypolls held in Nanjangud and Gundlupet.
