Cong to face 2018 Karnataka polls under collective leadership: KPCC chief

Bengaluru, Sep 28: The Congress will face the next Karnataka Assembly elections to be held in 2018 under collective leadership, according to G Parameshwara, president of Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee.

Replying to a query by media persons on who will lead the party in 2018 polls, he said: “The Congress believes in collective leadership. Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi are our leaders...We will go to polls under collective leadership.”

The state Congress executive committee, which held its meeting here on Tuesday, chalked out a series of programmes with dual intention to organise the party and prepare it for the Assembly elections.

The party will be launching Grama Swaraj Samavesha from October 2 on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti at Vidurashwatha in Gauribidanur taluk of Chikkaballapur district, Parameshwara stated.

The KPCC president said the party will take out a padayatra – Congress Nadige Surajyada Kadege – across all the 224 Assembly constituencies as part of Gram Swaraj Samavesha. The aim of the programme is to send out a message that the Congress stands for social justice and development of all sections of society. The party workers will be informed of the achievements of the state government.

Asked how the party will defend itself on the issue of making the Karnataka Lokayukta a defunct institution, he said the government had made a recommendation to Governor Vajubhai Vala for appointing the Lokayukta. But the Governor had rejected it.

Bureau has been established to fight corruption along with the Lokayukta, and it is functioning effectively, Parameshwara, who is also the Home Minister, said.

AICC general secretary incharge of Karnataka affairs Digvijaya Singh, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Congress leader in the Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge and senior ministers attended the meeting.