Stick to development agenda during campaign, says Rahul

Amidst war of words between Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and BJP leaders on banning Hindu fundamentalist organisations, the Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Saturday instructed the Karnataka Congress leaders not to deviate from development agenda during the course of the ensuing Assembly election campaign.

Rahul, who held a meeting with party state unit leaders for more than three hours on the poll preparedness of the organisation, told the state leaders not to fall into the trap of the BJP's "communal agenda," it is learnt.

At the closed-door meeting held at Rahul residence on Tughlaq Lane here, it is learnt, he told the state leaders that the narrative should only explain voters about the development works implemented by the state government and nothing else.

Rahul's pep talk came in the background of a series of war of words between Siddaramaiah and BJP leaders about the banning of some of the Hindu organisations for allegedly fuelling communal hatredness.

The Congress chief also instructed them that every one should work together without giving scope for any differences among leaders, new comers or old timers.

He also advise the state unit to finalise candidates for at least 170 Assembly constituencies by March first week so that contestants can start campaign early.

Rahul, who initially spoke to each leader separately while walking on the lawn of his residence, subsequently held a joint meeting. Siddaramaiah, KPCC pesident G Parameshwara, working presidents Dinesh Gundu Rao and S R Patil, AICC general secretary   incharge of Karnataka K C Venugopal, party leader in the Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge and senior leaders Oscar Fernandes, M Veerappa Moily, K H Muniyappa and B K Hariprasad were present.

Emerging out of the meeting, Venugopal told reporters that the performance of the state government and party organisation issues were discussed in the meeting. Rahul and other leaders appreciated the governance in the state and exuded confidence that the party will return to power.

Parameshwara said Rahul will be touring the state on February 10, 11 and 12, holding meetings with women organisations, farmers, intellectuals and students. The party leaders will conduct a joint statewide campaign by travelling in the same bus in the run-up to the elections.