Ensure coalition runs smoothly, Sonia tells Congress legislators

UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi is understood to have, on Wednesday, asked the party leaders and legislators to ensure smooth functioning of the JD(S)-Congress coalition government in the state.

Addressing the newly elected Congress MLAs before the swearing-in ceremony of H D Kumaraswamy as chief minister, she said problems, if any, should be sorted out through talks. The coalition government should continue in the interest of the country, she added.

Sonia said the Congressmen need not be worried about the misuse of federal investigation agencies by the BJP-led Centre to target its enemies. The political situation is fast changing in the country. “I am indebted to you for being united and standing by the party. Our goal is to stop the BJP from coming back to power in 2019 Lok Sabha elections,” she said.

Congress president Rahul Gandhi is learnt to have said that he is surprised by the election results.

“There was no anti-incumbency against the Congress government headed by Siddaramaiah. I don’t know why the party did not do well in the elections. But we have to accept the verdict of the people,” he stated.

Rahul said the party is passing through difficult times and that the leaders, especially the legislators, have to be united in the fight against the BJP. The BJP tried to induce the party MLAs, but all of them stood united, he added.

Former chief minister Siddaramaiah, party leader in the Lok Sabha Mallikarjuna Kharge and other senior Congress leaders were present in the occasion. Sonia and Rahul returned to Delhi after attending the swearing-in ceremony.