Parties shift gears as Assembly poll nears

With elections to the State assembly fast nearing, hectic activities have begun in all political parties. Internal meetings for selection of candidates and drawing up strategies and holding public rallies have become the order of the day.

On Monday, the Congress and the JD(S) held public rallies at the Palace Grounds and RBANM Grounds, Halasuru, respectively, as part of poll preparations.

All parties have undertaken the process of candidate selection and preparation of manifesto. The Election Commission of India is expected to announce the dates for polls, most likely to be held in April-May, by the month-end.

Minority card

The Congress, riding high on its success in the recently held ULB polls, organised “Congressge banni badalavane tanni” function wherein party workers belonging to five assembly constituencies — Shivajinagar, Sarvajnanagar, Pulakeshinagar, Shantinagar and C V Ramanagar participated. President G Parameshwara played the minority card accusing the JD(S) and the BJP of letting down the minority community.

“Kumaraswamy (JD-S State president) has been talking as if he has taken the contract for minority development. But, in reality, he has let down the community many times in the past. The BJP’s rule, on the other hand, saw a series of attacks on the minority community,” he alleged.

Siddaramaiah said every party worker should take up house-to-house campaign to educate people regarding the corrupt practices followed by the BJP. He said time has come to root out the corrupt BJP.

ULB polls setback

Having faced a setback in the ULB polls, JD(S) State president H D Kumaraswamy, at the function organised to felicitate those who had contested the ULB polls, averred not to let go of the opportunity if the party comes to power in the Assembly polls.

He said he would give up the State party president post if workers do not pledge to toil for the party’s success in the coming days.

He said the laid-back attitude of leaders in districts coming under the old Mysore area was the reason for the party’s poor show in the entire region. The JD(S) faced severe setback in the old Mysore region, its traditional stronghold, in the ULB polls. The party’s base has eroded considerably in almost all districts, including Hassan, Mandya, Ramanagar and Chamarajnagar. The JD(S) will hold its office-bearers and parliamentary board meeting on Tuesday.  Meanwhile, KJP leader B S Yeddyurappa will be touring Davangere and Chitradurga districts to organise his party on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Slow starter

The BJP is yet to begin constituency-wise public meetings like the JD(S) or the Congress. However, BJP media in-charge M S Sridhar said the party has been conducting constituency-wise meetings for the last five years.

The campaign, constituency-wise with candidates, would begin only after the declaration of election dates. BJP sources said there was no indication on the State party president. Chances of continuing K S Eshwarappa till elections cannot be ruled out, sources said.