He was speaking at the party election campaign at Ammavaripet in Kolar on Thursday.

The growth and prosperity of India is dependant on its secular fabric. The Congress party has sacrificed several of its leaders during the independence, he added.

The people should vote Congress to power for the survival of democracy, urged Mr Ghulam Nabi Azad. Everybody can vote irrespective of their caste, creed and economic status. It is a democratic right to exercise vote, he observed.

The independent candidates have converted election into a business. If such candidates are voted to power they would only create uncertainty in the administration of the State, he criticised. Also, he appealed to the people to vote the Congress party to power with absolute majority. The Congress had provided good governance in the past.However, the coalition government formed by the JD(S) and the BJP has only retarded development in the State, said Mr Azad.

Moreover, speaking on the occasion Congress candidate K Srinivasa Gowda informed that he had undertaken a lot of developmental work in the region. Thus, if the works ought to continue the people should cast their vote in favour of the Congress party, he added.

Also, present on the occasion were former minister K A Nisar Ahmed, former legislator K R Srinivasaiah. A large number of people belonging to the oppressed community had gathered in the meeting.