The Congress on Saturday tasked Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara and Water Resources Minister D K Shivakumar with the responsibility of ensuring the party’s victory in Chincholi and Kundgol bypolls, respectively.
Top leaders and ministers discussed strategy for the crucial bypolls in a meeting chaired by AICC general secretary in-charge of Karnataka K C Venugopal.
“We’re confident of winning both seats. All of us top leaders will spread out and work there. Even ministers have been given responsibilities,” Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president Dinesh Gundu Rao told reporters.
Kundgol and Chincholi go to polls on May 19 and the last date to file nominations is April 29. The bypoll in Kundgol was necessitated due to the death of legislator C S Shivalli and Chincholi because of the resignation of Umesh Jadhav.
According to sources, Congress leaders discussed fielding Shivalli’s wife Kusuma from Kundgol and Subhash Rathod from Chincholi.
Apparently, the party’s Lambani, Kuruba, Dalit and Lingayat ministers have been asked to camp in both constituencies and ensure victory. Kungdol has a sizable Kuruba population whereas Chincholi has a significant number of Lambani voters.