BANGALORE: The Congress on Monday said that it had no intention of toppling the coalition Government and that it would collapse because of its own internal contradictions.

Addressing presspersons here, KPCC president M. Mallikarjun Kharge said after the Government fell the Congress would take advantage of the political situation and make an attempt to come back to power.

He apologised to Bangaloreans for the inconvenience caused to them on account of the party convention at Palace Grounds on Sunday. He congratulated Bangalore Police Commissioner N. Achuta Rao and other police officials for maintaining the law and order during the convention.

Refuting the Janata Dal (S) allegation that the party had spent Rs. 40 crore for a 40-minute programme, Mr. Kharge said that except for some funds spent by the KPCC for advertisements in newspapers, legislators from different constituencies and presidents of Block Congress Committees had borne the expenses on mobilising workers for the rally. The expenditure on the convention would be reflected in the party's balance sheet for the year, he said.

The JD (S) had in the past conducted several rallies and it should know how such rallies were funded, Mr. Kharge said. Stating that the funds spent on the convention could not termed as wasteful expenditure, he said that party president Sonia Gandhi had come to spread the message and educate the people about the policies of the party and the United Progressive Alliance Government.

The large gathering at the rally on Sunday would help further strengthen the Congress in the State, the KPCC chief said.

Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil had announced a Rs. 250-crore assistance to the State immediately after his aerial survey of the affected districts last week. "Did the Centre take 250 days to announce the assistance?"

Ms. Gandhi also announced a package for the State farmers who were facing severe difficulties owing to floods and drought, Mr. Kharge said.

On the border dispute with Maharashtra, he said the Mahajan Commission report was final and the party was ready to fight to protect the territory of the State.

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