Lok Sabha elections: Congress Karnataka ministers in Delhi as party convenes meet to discuss strategies

According to him, the key focus this time is to identify the right candidates and find ways to counter the Ram Temple issue so that it does not adversely affect the party’s poll prospects in Karnataka.

Also Read: Fresh case of moral policing in Karnataka as interfaith couple assaulted

‘Guarantee’ strength

“The ministers will be asked to publicise the five guarantees (pre-poll promises of the party) and various other welfare schemes of the state government. Our key strength in the Lok Sabha election is our five guarantees, which no other state has implemented,” the Congress leader claimed.

While the Ram Temple issue may come up for discussion, the Congress leader said that the party is not unduly worried about it.

“We are not very much thinking about the Ram Temple issue because the Hindu community itself is divided with four Shankaracharyas reportedly not attending the consecration ceremony at Ayodhya on 22 January,” a Congress source said.

He also underlined that the demand by some ministers that three deputy chief ministers should be appointed in Karnataka may not come up for discussion in the meeting.

“Our party president Mallikarjun Kharge has snubbed the ministers and MLAs demanding it. He has strictly told them not to raise this issue till the elections are over,” the source said.

The Congress put up a dismal show in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections in Karnataka, where it won just one of the total 28 seats.

Also Read: Congress workers to monitor poll guarantees in Karnataka

BJP meeting

The Congress is not the only party gearing up for the general elections.

A high-level meeting between the core committee (comprising senior leaders) and newly appointed office bearers of the Karnataka BJP had taken place in the state party headquarters in Bengaluru City on 28 December.

Former Karnataka chief ministers BS Yediyurappa, Basavaraj Bommai, and Sadananda Gowda, former deputy chief ministers KS Eshwarappa and Govind Karjol, and other senior leaders were present at the meeting.

Sadananda Gowda, former minister V Somanna, Hubballi-Dharwad West MLA Aravind Bellad, and Vijayapura City MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal had openly expressed their dissent over various issues related to the party affairs. This had become a big headache for the party ahead of the general elections.

It may also be noted that ever since the 2023 Karnataka Assembly polls ended, the Karnataka BJP has been marred with a lack of unity and brimming dissent within the cadre over various issues — especially on the appointment of the state president and the Leader of the Opposition (LoP).

(With PTI inputs)