‘Work unitedly, high command will decide on CM and Ministers’: Kharge tells Cong leaders

PTI, Dec 11, 2022, 9:27 AM IST

Kalaburgi: With just five months left for assembly polls in Karnataka, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday urged party leaders to unitedly face the election and clarified that the high command will decide as to who will become the Chief Minister and Ministers, after coming to power.

He also asked Congressmen and leaders to travel across the state and attract people towards the party, like the ruling BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi do.

“You should bring our government, the Congress should come to power. I’m today the AICC President, for my honour and that of my party you should ensure the Congress government in Karnataka. If we are in power, we will be able to work for the people and implement various pro public works. I’m confident you will give us strength,” Kharge said.

Expressing surprise over keen interest and support for the BJP among some sections, he said, “still some people chant Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s name.” “They are already making efforts to win Karnataka. So I urge all our leaders to go to villages, travel across the state and attract people towards our party, like BJP, Modi, Shah (Union Home Minister Amit Shah) and their Ministers do. My advice to all party men is to work together, if we don’t do it, it’s like betraying the people,” he added.

The veteran leader, who is on a maiden visit to his home town of Kalaburagi, after taking over as the AICC chief, was addressing a mega gathering here.

Making it clear that the party high command will decide as to who will become the CM or Ministers, Kharge said, “if we fight among ourselves, we may lose what we may get. So all of us should unite.” Pointing to Congress’ victory in the Himachal Pradesh assembly polls, he said, “… It should repeat in Karnataka also, everyone should join hands and march forward, my support is with you. I won’t say that I don’t want this person or that, whoever it may be, I want the Congress party and the Congress government here.” The AICC chief’s strong call for unity has come as Congress seems to be faction ridden, especially with top two leaders-State President D K Shivakumar, Legislature Party leader Siddaramaiah- nursing Chief Ministerial ambitions in the event of party coming to power, and are indulging in a game of political one-upmanship.

Shivakumar, Siddaramaiah, AICC General Secretary in-charge of Karnataka Randeep Singh Surjewala, were among several top party leaders present at the event.

Earlier, Kharge on his arrival was taken in a procession for four to five kilometres here.

Noting that the Congress has always been winning majority seats in Kalyana-Karnataka region, Kharge said, “I have come here as AICC President, I had never desired nor asked for it. Many times without asking I have got positions, which I have managed with your support and blessings.” He also recalled the role played by him and the Congress party in providing special status to the backward Hyderabad-Karnataka (now Kalyana-Karnataka) region during the UPA rule, by an amendment of Article 371(J) of the Constitution, aimed at providing more education and employment to the region.

Accusing the BJP government of doing injustice to the region by not filling up vacant posts amidst growing unemployment, he assured that the Congress on coming to power will fill all the vacancies not only in the Hyderabad- Karnataka region but in the entire state.

There are 30 lakh vacancies in public, semi government, aided, police and banking sectors, he added.

Referring to the 10-point programme prepared by the Congress for the Kalyana Karnataka region, the AICC chief said, “we are committed to provide Rs 5,000 crore for the development of the region, also- a new industrial policy, creation of 1 lakh posts, completion of irrigation works in Krishna and Godavari basin by announcing a special package.

A committee will be formed in every district in the region to monitor the implementation of the commitments made.” “Also, we will recommend to the Centre for setting up IIT, IIM and AIIMS in Kalyana Karnataka, also separate degree colleges for women in every assembly segment within 5 years, house for homeless in five years, more funds for gram panchayats aimed at strengthening them,” he listed out.