Rally to mark two years of Cong govt in D'gere on May 16

The model code of conduct, in place for the gram panchayat (GP) elections, has dampened the enthusiasm of the Congress in celebrating the second anniversary of the party government in the State. But the party is going ahead with the celebrations, nevertheless.

The Congress is making preparations to hold the Sarvodaya Samavesha in Davangere on May 16. But, the State Election Commission has instructed the Davangere district officials to ensure that the code is not violated.

The party has decided to give a recap on how many promises made in the election manifesto of 2013 have been implemented in the last two years. State Congress general secretary Boseraj said, “Through the convention, we will explain to the people that we have been keeping up our promises to the people. Due to the elections, we will not announce any new programme”.

Boseraj told reporters on Monday that party general secretary Digvijaya Singh would be the attending the rally, to be held at 11 am.

2L workers expected
“The rally will last for a couple of hours. We are expecting at least two lakh workers from seven to eight districts to participate,” he said.

The party did not get an opportunity to celebrate the first anniversary last year as Chief Minister Siddaramaiah himself was not interested in holding a bash.

Also, there were Lok Sabha elections in May. A booklet was released giving details of the work done in the first year of the government. Even this year, it is not the government, but the party which is organising the rally, in view of the GP elections.

Siddu govt faces criticism
The Siddaramaiah government is facing criticism from the party leaders and workers at district and hobli level that the programmes of the government have not reached the masses.

The Davangere rally would be a platform to convey the work done in the last two years, the party sources said.

Minister Shamanur Shivashankarappa, who is Davangere district incharge minister, may not be able to participate in the rally as he is recuperating from a hip surgery, party sources said.