The State Congress needs a pro-active leader to lead the party; bring back S M Krishna; let Kharge continue; the party should have a pre-poll alliance... all this and more were among the suggestions made to AICC General Secretary Prithviraj Chavan during his two-day camp in Bangalore.

From Saturday evening to Sunday evening, Chavan met dozens of party leaders who aired their strong views pro and against KPCC President Mallikarjun Kharge. A group of leaders headed by R L Jalappa met Chavan on Saturday night.

Sources in the party said that Chavan gave a patient hearing to all the leaders who met him, but dropped no hints as to whether there would be a change in the leadership before the polls next year.

When mediapersons posed a question on the same issue, he shot back saying, “This is not a issue to be discussed in the press conference”.

Sources said if the party decides to continue with Kharge as KPCC President, then two working presidents - one belonging to Vokkaliga and another from the Lingayat community would be appointed. Such measure would help the party woo back voters from these two major communities.

Before leaving for Delhi in the evening, Chavan met Governor Rameshwar Thakur in Raj Bhavan and held discussions with him for nearly an hour.

Development activity

Developmental activities in the State, and Karnataka’s agenda for the National Development Council meeting scheduled to be held in New Delhi later this week figured in the discussion, Congress sources said. Addressing a press conference, Chavan on Sunday said that  if leaders of other political parties were interested in joining the Congress, the party would accord them due status without any prejudice.

Chavan said his party welcomed alliances with any partner of United Progressive Alliance(UPA) in the State.

However the party would not enter into an alliance with the Bahujan Samaj Party as it was not a member of the UPA, Chavan clarified.

When his attention was drawn to the infighting among leaders of the State unit, Chavan said he hoped that State leaders would bury the hatchet and put up a united fight once the battle started.    

Workers enthusiastic

Chavan, who earlier in the day met party leaders both individually, as well as in groups at the Kumara Krupa Guest House, said they were enthusiastic about facing the elections.