PM Modi behaves like a despot, says Dinesh Gundu Rao

Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) President Dinesh Gundu Rao said the Cabinet expansion of the coalition government would take place on December 22.

Rao told media persons, on Wednesday, that there was no confusion over the Cabinet expansion.

“Congress party is more democratic unlike Prime Minister Narendra Modi who behaves like a despot. The party is important and not an individual,” he said.

When asked about the absence of a few MLAs in the party meeting, KPCC president said the MLAs had cited personal reasons for not attending the meeting.

The voters in five states have taught a befitting lesson to the BJP. The voters have realised BJPs fake propaganda and gimmick of playing with their emotions using Hundutva agenda. The zero achievements of BJP had forced voters to revolt against the BJP. The voters have now begun to question the BJP and its leader Modi, Gundu Rao said.

Coming down heavily on BJP and Ram Mandir issue, Rao said there was no opposition for the construction of the temple at Ayodhya. However, it is sad that the BJP remembers the temple issue only when the elections are fast approaching. It has made Ram temple issue purely a vote bank gimmick. Let the Apex court deliver its verdict on the Ram Mandir, he added.

The coalition government is strong in Karnataka, he said and added that the coalition of Congress and JD(S) will also continue in the Lok Sabha elections.

He was confident that coalition partners would win more than 20 seats in the next Lok Sabha elections in Karnataka.

Elaborating on the grass root-level preparations for forthcoming Lok Sabha polls, Rao said in the door-to-door campaign, party workers will highlight Congress and its secular principles.

As many as 160 workers will be trained and all the office-bearers and members of the party will be trained at Rajiv Gandhi Political Academy in Yermal.

As many as nine lakh members have been registered under Shakthi Yojane. This would help in the booth-level preparation of the party to combat the poll strategies, he maintained.

On the toll issue, Rao said he would discuss with the PWD Minister H D Revanna. The public have been opposing toll collection for local vehicles plying on NH-66 and the Karkala-Padubidri state highway.