Bengaluru/Mysuru: The ruling Congress plans to pull out all the stops, including a high-decibel campaign by all ministers, as part of a strategy approved by the coordination committee to win bypolls to the Legislative Assembly from Nanjangud and Gundlupet constituencies.
Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, a senior leader said, “After the diary-gate, we need to be extra careful and ensure victory in both constituencies. Hence, it has become essential to deploy all prominent leaders and ministers to ensure a victory of our party candidates. Each minister will be made in-charge of a gram panchayat under these two constituencies.” Besides, the caste factor would come into play in allocation of gram panchayats for ministers as such a step would ensure “proper resource management” in these constituencies. At the meeting of coordination committee, the leaders decided to give it all as these bypolls are likely to be the last elections before the Assembly elections in 2018. With former minister V Srinivas Prasad, now in BJP, campaigning in his home constituency, Nanjangud, since January 2017, the leaders felt it would be unwise to deploy only district in-charge ministers or a handful of leaders in the constituency, a part of CM Siddaramaiah’s home district, Mysuru. Besides, Gundlupet, too, forms a part of Mysuru district.
Meanwhile, sources said senior leaders led by M. Mallikarjuna Kharge reportedly exerted pressure on Chief Minister, Siddaramaiah, not to release caste-census data ahead of Assembly polls in 2018. For, the leaders felt it would not be opportune to release caste census data at this juncture. "Release of caste census data will only help rival BJP and JD(S) parties to further consolidate their vote banks as both these parties have strong presence in areas where Lingayats and Vokkaligas are dominant force. Moreover, Congress is the only party which has pan-Karnataka presence. Hence, it will be advisable to avoid the release of caste census ahead of Assembly polls in 2018. Instead, the party can release the data on returning to power in 2018,” sources added.
Besides, senior leaders pulled up state Youth Congress leader Rizwan Arshad, for failing to make an impact when party was going through tough times. “In the last four years, the youth wing has failed to exhibited to its combative qualities, particularly when leaders like H. Y. Meti and Govindaraju have come under severe attack. Members of state unit of Youth Congress ought to be more active," sources quoting several leaders told Deccan Chronicle.
Mahadevprasad’s wife woos Gundlupet voters
Mrs Geetha Mahadevprasad, widow of minister H.S. Mahadevprasad and prospective Congress candidate for the bypoll to the Assembly from Gundlupet constituency, stepped out to woo voters though she maintained that she wanted to ensure completion of developmental projects launched by her husband.
Addressing voters at Honakanapura on Monday, she said: “Even though my husband passed away 55 days ago, I have not been able to overcome the trauma and pain. My only intention is to ensure fruition of his vision. Our family will continue to strive to serve you. I will respond to your problems earnestly.”
Chamarajnagar district Congress president, Mr P Mariswamy, said people should not vote out of sympathy but gauging the contributions of the late minister in terms of development.
Mr Mahadevprasad’s brother, Mr H S Nanjundprasad and son, Mr Ganesh Prasad, also participated in the event.
