(Disclaimer: Only the headline, subheads, and intro of this report along with the photos may have been reworked by South First. The rest of the content is from a syndicated feed)
Published Jan 09, 2023 | 4:41 PM ⚊ Updated Jan 09, 2023 | 5:28 PM
Priyanka Gandhi with Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi in Bharat Jodo Yatra. (priyankagandhi/Twitter)
Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra will be addressing a women’s convention in Bengaluru on 16 January to galvanise the support of womenfolk ahead of Assembly polls in Karnataka, said party’s state president DK Shivakumar on Monday, 9 January.
He said the party is planning a separate manifesto for women ahead of polls, due by April-May, and wants to release a “guarantee letter” expressing the Congress’ commitment towards them.
The Karnataka Congress chief was speaking to reporters after inducting JD(S) leaders from Ramanagara and Mandya districts — Vishwanath and Radhakrishna — along with their supporters at the party office in Bengaluru.
Vishwanath had even contested against Shivakumar in the Kanakapura assembly segment earlier.
“Women are 50 percent of the population, Congress has decided to prepare a separate manifesto for women regarding the ways in which the party can contribute to the betterment of their lives and address the issues faced by them. Also building leadership among them and strengthening them,” Shivakumar said.
Highlighting Congress’ programmes for the betterment of women, he said, the party intends to release a “guarantee letter” for womenfolk along with the manifesto ahead of elections, and as part of this effort suggestions and inputs have been invited from all leaders till 15 January.
“Also a massive convention of women leaders from panchayat and society level to right up to the top level has been organised on 16 January at Palace Ground in Bengaluru, several national leaders will be attending this event including Priyanka Gandhi Vadra,” he said.
Noting that she will “review the process”, address the convention and make some announcements for women on behalf of the party, the Karnataka Congress chief said, details about the event will be shared soon.
This will be Priyanka Gandhi Vadra’s first “political visit” to the state, and she will be sending a message to the womenfolk of Karnataka, he added.
Claiming Congress as the champion of women’s cause by having reservations for them, Shivakumar in response to a question said, it is the party’s resolve to give them strength politically, educationally, economically and socially in accordance with their population.
Stating that price rise has become a major issue that is affecting the normal lives of people, Shivakumar said, the BJP government had promised to double the income, which did not happen, but the price of essential commodities is increasing.
The Congress is thinking about how to address the issue of price rise and is preparing a manifesto under the leadership of senior party leader and former Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara, he said. “We will also be soon coming out with details and BJP’s misrule and misdeeds.”
Shivakumar also said that both he and Siddaramaiah will be starting a statewide tour soon, in the run-up to Assembly polls, and will share the details about its nature, reason and the number of days soon.
(Disclaimer: Only the headline, subheads, and intro of this report along with the photos may have been reworked by South First. The rest of the content is from a syndicated feed)
