Karnataka Congressmen warned against going to media on grievances

Bengaluru: Congress General Secretary in- charge K C Venugopal warned the partymen against going to the media with ‘grievances’ and pressed for unity within the party’s state unit ahead of the 2018 Assembly polls. 

He assured partymen that the decision on new Karnataka Pradesh Congress chief will be taken before this month end, but was non-committal to a question whether the 2018 elections will beunder Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s leadership.

“Taking view of the importance of the election weare of the opinion that no leader should issue any statementagainst the leadership, against the party in the future,”Venugopal told reporters here. 

He said “if there are grievances, let them report itto the PCC or they can report it to AICC office bearers. Weare here to address the grievances…Going before the media with grievances will not be tolerated.” 

Noting that the Karnataka assembly elections next year was”crucial” for the party, Venugopal called on the partymen tobe united with only one mantra- “retain power in Karnataka andto defeat BJP’s malicious campaign.” 

Venugopal’s comment comes in the wake of a few veteran leaders, including H Vishwanath and Janardhana Poojaryopenly criticising the party’s state leadership. 

There was also resentment among the party seniorsagainst the Chief Minister and KPCC chief over being “sidelined”. 

Venugopal for the last four days has held series of meetings with heads of all district units, district in-charge ministers, MLAs and leaders in the presence of Chief MinisterSiddaramaiah and Pradesh Congress Committee G Parameshwara,which he termed as “brain storming session”. 

During the meetings various party issues hadbeen discussed and a message has been given to them to ensureunity for retaining power in the 2018 assembly polls, he said. 

Accepting that there were some differences within the party, he said “if the party is united, if the workers are united, definitely people will go along with us. That is the message to workers and leaders of the party.” Venugopal also said that district in-charge ministersand MLAs had been asked to spend more time in respective districts and constituencies and ensure that programmes of the government reach the people. 

Asserting that the Congress would come back to power in Karnataka because of “lot of” people-friendly programmes of the state government, he said “we can challenge any government, we can challenge BJP across the country… 

“We areready for an open debate with the BJP over the priority wehave given to common people, downtrodden and weaker sections,” he said. 

Taking a dig at the BJP’s state-wide tour duringwhich its leaders are visiting houses of Dalits, Venugopal termedit as a “drama”, citing incidents of “atrocities” against Dalits in BJP ruled states. 

“People will understand their new found love towards Dalits,” he added. 

Siddaramaiah said there were some minor differences within some units of the party. “We have tried to address them. We will face the election together and be victorious in the 2018 polls.” 

Co-ordination committees had been formed at few districts where there are issues that need to be resolved, he added.