Congress high command directs Karnataka unit to monitor communal tensions, focus on unity

Meanwhile, former chief minister Jagadish Shettar and former Deputy chief minister and current Athani MLA Laxman Savadi attended their first high-level party meeting after pledging allegiance to the Congress in Delhi.

Emphasising the significance of unity among the party’s ranks, Kharge and Gandhi urged the state leaders to play a pivotal role in replicating the party’s past electoral achievements during the impending general elections and asked the state leaders to ensure victory in at least 20 parliamentary constituencies.

In the 2018 Lok Sabha elections, BJP won 25 seats, and the Congress, JD(S) and independents won one seat each.

ನಮ್ಮ‌ ಸರ್ಕಾರದ ಐದು ಗ್ಯಾರಂಟಿಗಳ ಜಾರಿಯ “ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ ಅಭಿವೃದ್ಧಿ ಮಾದರಿ” ಲೋಕಸಭಾ ಚುನಾವಣೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಫಲನೀಡುವ ಭರವಸೆ ನಮಗಿದೆ.
ನಾವು 20-24 ಸ್ಥಾನಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಜಯಗಳಿಸಲಿದ್ದೇವೆ.
ದೆಹಲಿಯ ಎಐಸಿಸಿ ಕಚೇರಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಇಂದು ನಡೆದ ಕರ್ನಾಟಕದ ಸಚಿವರುಗಳು ಹಾಗೂ ಹಿರಿಯ ನಾಯಕರ ಸಭೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಈ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ವಿಸ್ತೃತವಾದ ಚರ್ಚೆ ನಡೆಯಿತು.
1/4#AICC #Delhi pic.twitter.com/4m8sEKhGWp

— Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) August 2, 2023

Vigil on communal tensions

Amidst the increasing communal tensions in parts of Karnataka, mainly in the coastal region, the Congress high command has asked the state government to remain vigilant regarding escalating communal tensions in the state, ahead of the Lok Sabha polls.

On condition of anonymity, a senior MLA who was part of the high-level meeting chaired by Congress with the Karnataka leaders told South First: “The high command stressed more about the increasing Hindu-Muslim communal tensions in Karnataka.”

He added: “Kharge and Rahul Gandhi directed the chief minister, deputy chief minister, and the Cabinet ministers to watch out on the increasing communal tensions between Hindus and Muslims, which are most instigated by the BJP, in the state.”

The central leadership also directed the state government to control and prevent such communal tensions and tread cautiously on such incidents in the meeting, he added.

“The high command also stressed maintaining the unity within the government and cadre,” said the MLA.

At least three major communal incidents — including the Udupi washroom filming case and the Jain monk murder case — along with a spate of moral-policing incidents, especially in the coastal Karnataka region, have been reported throughout the state since the Congress has come to power.

Also read: Araga Jnanendra sparks row with Mallikarjun Kharge remarks

Allocating time for MLAs

After several senior MLAs complained against the ministers in the recently-held Congress Legislature Party meeting, the party high command has now directed the cabinet ministers to allocate at least two hours a week for MLAs.

In the recently held CLP meeting, several legislators including Aland MLA BR Patil and Yelburga MLA Basavaraj Rayareddy had complained against the ministers not responding to their letters related to development and transfers.

Responding to their grievances, the chief minister assured of addressing their grievances and directed ministers to fulfil the demands of party MLAs.

In the party meeting held in Delhi, the high command directed the cabinet ministers to coordinate with the MLAs and work for the development of the state.

Minister for Minor Irrigation and Science and Technology NS Boseraju told South First: “The deliberations were more over the upcoming parliament elections. The high command also directed all the cabinet ministers to provide at least two hours a week for MLAs to listen to their grievances and other issues related to constituencies.”

“The ministers must give respect to all the legislators and coordinate with them for the development of the state. There was no discussion about the recently held CLP meeting and none of the senior leaders complained before the high command,” Boseraju said the meeting witnessed a healthy discussion on Lok Sabha elections and strategies.

Athani MLA Laxman Savadi told South First: “The high command spoke individually with all the leaders that were present in the meeting. The central leadership urged the MLAs to raise the issues or any differences before the Chief Minister or Deputy Chief Minister instead of expressing it before the media.”

“If the issues are not sorted out at the state level, raise them with the AICC General Secretaries Randeep Singh Surjewala and KC Venugopal, who will address the complaints of legislators,” added Savadi.

On whether Rahul Gandhi gave any message to the state leaders, Savadi said: “He only appealed to the leaders to give good administration, corruption-free and transparent governance and have good coordination between ministers and MLAs.”

Also read: Congress looks to use ₹11k cr SCP/TSP funds for poll promises

Lok Sabha poll strategy

The Congress top brass on Wednesday discussed the party’s strategy for the next Lok Sabha elections with senior leaders from Karnataka, as it called for unity in the cadre for a repeat of its electoral success.

Kharge and Gandhi urged the state leaders to help the party repeat its performance in the upcoming general elections and called for unity across its rank and file.

Stating that Karnataka trusted the party’s “welfare-oriented governance and development paradigm”, Kharge tweeted: “Together, we are scripting a new chapter of progress and welfare for 6.5 Crore Kannadigas. We are tirelessly working towards fulfilling our 5 solemn guarantees, all of which are in advanced stages of implementation.”

Together, we are scripting a new chapter of progress and welfare for 6.5 Crore Kannadigas.

We are tirelessly working towards fulfilling our 5 solemn guarantees, all of which are in advanced stages of implementation.

A historic mandate, also brings in a huge responsibility.… pic.twitter.com/a5DVYXoprc

— Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) August 2, 2023

He added: “A historic mandate also brings in a huge responsibility. We are confident that the people of Karnataka will also repose their faith in the Congress party in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.”

AICC General Secretary Surjewala told reporters in Delhi: “A senior leader each would be assigned to oversee the responsibility to mobilise voters in every parliamentary constituency in Karnataka.”

He added: “The party took an important decision that a senior leader of the Congress and a minister would be in charge of each parliamentary seat, and they would be responsible for the entire preparation for the next six to seven months, until the parliamentary elections are completed.”

He also said: “The Chief Minister has said that the party will win at least 20 seats in the Lok Sabha elections. We will try to win 28 out of 28 seats, but the Congress party will definitely win at least 20 seats.”

Praising the state government for implementing five guarantees, Surjewala said: “On one side there is Modi ji, who criticises us by crying out for Karnataka’s model. On the other side the Congress government, which started the path of public welfare, which is now being followed by the BJP governments, despite criticising us.”

He added: “Around 92-93 percent of the people of the state would be benefitted by one or the other Congress guarantee.”

Savadi told South First: “While discussing the strategy for the parliament elections, several leaders appealed to the high command to give an indication about the possible candidates for all the Lok Sabha seats at the earliest. This will help to chalk out a better strategy. The high command assured of giving an indication. However, the candidates will be announced during the elections.”

A senior cabinet minister told South First: “The party high command has given in-charge of each Lok Sabha seat to a cabinet minister and senior leader. The central leadership claimed that they have already begun the survey for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. They also directed the state government to submit a report on the guarantees once it is completely implemented in the state.”