Cabinet expansion after ULB polls: Dinesh Gundu Rao

KPCC President Dinesh Gundu Rao on Saturday said that the cabinet would be expanded to fill up three vacant berths in September.

"The cabinet expansion is delayed due to elections to urban local bodies (ULB). Once the elections conclude, the cabinet will be expanded. Heads for various boards and corporations will also be appointed," he told reporters in Mangaluru.

"The Congress party is concentrating on winning more seats in the ULB polls. The party will win maximum ULBs. Preparations for Lok Sabha polls will begin once the ULB polls conclude," he said.

Rao added that a meeting had been convened in Bengaluru on September 1 and 2 to discuss preparations for the Lok Sabha polls.

"There is no discussion yet regarding finalising candidates for the Lok Sabha polls. The Congress party will come up with a plan to prevent the NDA government from retaining the power," he said.

He charged that communal forces were active after the BJP came to the power.

"Terrorism in the country has increased. The Central government has failed to check the circulation of black money and corruption. The government has failed to appoint Lokpal. Funds from India freely flow to other countries after Modi became the Prime Minister," he said.

Rao justified AICC President Rahul Gandhi for the latter's comparison of RSS to Muslim Brotherhood

"The BJP and Sangh Parivar don't support development in the country. They are imposing one culture on the nation, besides fuelling violence. Hence, Rahul Gandhi compared the RSS to the Muslim Brotherhood," he said

Rao added: "The investigation has revealed the involvement of Sangh Parivar in brutal murders of intellectuals Govind Pansare, Narendra Dabholkar, Prof M M Kalaburgi and journalist Gauri Lankesh. The BJP is using every incident for political gain. Paresh Mesta's case is a classic example in this regard."