Bangalore: In a bid to counter Gujarat Chief Minister, Narendra Modi's growing acceptance in some urban pockets of the state, several leaders from the Mysore division of the Congress party on Sunday appealed to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to ensure smooth flow of funds in urban areas in order to take up development projects ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.
These leaders also urged the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee(KPCC) president, Dr G. Parameshwar to come out with a policy on re-entry of leaders at the local level, which was duly accepted by him.
The KPCC chief asserted that the KPCC would intervene only in the case of re-entry of former ministers, former MLA sand former MLCs into the party fold, while the decision on others can be taken at the local level after consultation.
Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, a senior leader in the KPCC said, "Several leaders from urban areas cautioned the CM that fund flow in urban areas has shrunk in the last couple of months, if this isn't addressed then it would lead to disastrous consequences. As of now, the urban electorate appears to be disenchanted with the party. So, the CM must take corrective steps by releasing and launching several development projects in urban areas."
The source claimed that this demand came from leaders of Dakshin Kannada, Chikmagalur and Udupi districts which are considered to be BJP strongholds.
"Apart from this, leaders from rural areas in 12 Parliament segments demanded that the Chief Minister should address issues related to release of funds for various pension schemes, resolve the confusion over APL and BPL ration cardholders and also to take necessary steps to initiate the process for identifying beneficiaries, so that we can keep the rural electorate’s hopes alive till the elections are over. Otherwise, the BJP will use it to its advantage when the elections approach claiming that their regime had commenced the process of distributing houses to the poor but the Congress stalled it," the source said.
The CM took the suggestions positively and assured the leaders that he would do his best to address the grievances.
AICC vice-president Rahul Gandhi has a degree from Cambridge University, but when it comes to politics, he has his backroom boys as advisors. From what he wears to what he talks, everything is scrutinised. This is the team, comprising Oxford scholars to former bureaucrats, that stands by Rahul as he takes on BJP's PM candidate Narendra Modi in the forthcoming general elections.
An Oxford graduate, Kaushal Vidyarthee is currently the programme manager at Rajiv Gandhi Mahila Vikas Pariyojana. As a student, he was vice-president at Oxford University Student Union. What caught Rahul's attention was avid blogger's interest in research, especially the one on incorporation of Dalits in the economy. (photo courtesy: vidyarthee.com) As part of the committee in-charge of electoral strategy, Dr. Mohan Gopal provides academic insight into party's decisions. The second ever all India president of the National Students Union of India (NSUI) Gopal plans training programmes for Congress Youth members.Koppula Raju, a 1981 batch IAS officer from Hyderabad who quit his job two months ago to join Rahul, is the chairman of the Congress cell on schedule castes. He travels extensively with Rahul, holding parleys with state unit leaders. He was one among the bureaucrats, who were kidnapped by the erstwhile People's War Group Naxalites, in Gurtedu, in East Godavari district, in 1987. Kanishka Singh, an investment banker, gave up his job at the World Bank to join politics in 2003, the year he was part of the team that helped Delhi CM Sheila Dixit's sweep in the assembly polls. Ever since Congress won Amethi seat in 2004, he has been a companion of Rahul. Singh, a computer engineer and MBA from Wharton, was in charge of door-to-door campaigning in the Saraini Assembly segment.K B Byju, former SPG sharp shooter who provided protection to the Gandhi family, quit forces three years ago to take a plunge into politics. He is the point person for Rahul's (in pic) outstation tours as he coordinates with security personnel and at times, he acts as media coordinator too. (Byju's pic was not available)Sachin Rao, a graduate of the Michigan Business School, manages matters concerning internal surveys and also Youth Congress. Alankar Sawai, a former banker, is now in-charge of documents and social media in the Rahul's team. Like Sachin Rao, Sawai also looks after Youth Congress affairs. (Alankar's pic wasn't available)Apart from this core team, Rahul has others providing him advice on many fronts. Congress leader Digvijay Singh is commonly known as Rahul's mentor or personal loud speaker. Lok Sabha MP from Mandsaur in Madhya Pradesh, Meenakshi Natarajan, is often referred by Rahul as a politician who has made success despite not having pedigree. She lives by her rules as taking public transport. 