The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : ‘Neglecting youth cost Congress dear’

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Thursday, Oct 25, 2007
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

‘Neglecting youth cost Congress dear’

Special Correspondent

Youth Congress launches membership drive
Youth told to get ready for mid-term polls

BANGALORE: Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president M. Mallikarjun Kharge has said that neglecting youth has cost the party dear in the recently held elections to the urban local bodies, particularly in Mangalore, Udupi, Davangere and Bellary.

He called upon Youth Congress leaders and workers to be prepared for mid-term elections to the Legislative Assembly, the possibility of which is likely soon. The Congress had lost its foothold in Mangalore, Bellary and Davangere City Corporation owing to the neglect of youth leaders by local party leaders. In the coming elections, the party would correct its past mistakes and give preference to youth, he said.

The KPCC president was inaugurating the youth membership drive organised by the Bangalore City Youth Congress here on Wednesday.

Youth support

According to Mr. Kharge, the support extended to the youth was the main factor behind success of the Bharatiya Janata Party in the urban local bodies’ elections in Bellary and Mangalore. The Congress had no good youth leaders in these city corporations and it was necessary to enrol more youth into the party to strengthen the organisation.

Elections to the Legislative Assembly would be held any time in the State and the support of the youth was required to secure majority in the Assembly, he said.

. Kharge said the party had secured 13.29 lakh votes in 20 districts while the BJP polled 9.54 lakh votes and the Janata Dal (Secular) secured third place with 9.33 lakh votes.

The former Chief Minister N. Dharam Singh said “opportunistic” and “internal contradictions” between the BJP and Janata Dal (Secular) had led to the collapse of the Government and imposition of the President’s Rule.

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