The Hindu : Karnataka News : Congress ready to face elections any time: Kharge

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Wednesday, Feb 06, 2008
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Karnataka

Karnataka

Congress ready to face elections any time: Kharge

Correspondent

He denies using any pressure tactics to postpone the polls

‘The poor were exploited during the JD(S)-BJP rule’
Misuse of flood relief fund alleged

Sirsi: The Congress is ready to face the Assembly elections anytime and it is not using any pressure tactics to postpone the elections, Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president M. Mallikarjun Kharge has said.

He was speaking after inaugurating the party’s Janandolana programme at Yellapur near here on Tuesday.

‘Injustice’

Mr. Kharge charged that the Janata Dal (Secular)-Bharatiya Janata Party coalition government did injustice to the poor people in the State during its 20-month rule.

More than 44 lakh names of “fictitious” people had been included in the voters’ list in the State, he said and blamed other parties for this.

Request

Mr. Kharge said that the Congress would request the Election Commission to delete such names from the list and hold elections in the State according to the Delimitation Commission report.

BJP leader B.S. Yeddyurappa was dreaming of becoming chief minister, but his own party leaders such as Ananthkumar and K.S. Eshwarappa were troublesome for him, he said.

‘Exploited’

He charged that poor people were exploited and corruption was rampant during the coalition government rule.

When there were floods in Honavar, there was no time for the then Chief Minister and the Deputy Chief Minister to visit the place, he charged.

He alleged that they misused the flood relief fund Rs. 850 crore released by the Union Government.

General secretary of the All India Congress Committee Margaret Alva said it was impossible for the BJP to come to power, both at the Centre and the State.

She promised to take up the issues concerning Uttara Kannada district with the Union Government.

Union Ministers M.V. Rajasekharan and K.H. Muniyappa, and former Minister R.V. Deshpande spoke.

Felicitated

Mr. Deshpande was felicitated on the occasion in recognition of his 25 years of public service. His son Prashant Deshpande announced that he would join the party.

However, he clarified that he would not contest elections.

Party leaders H.K. Patil, Devaraj Naik, Umesh Bhat, Kagodu Thimmappa, V.S. Ugrappa, Roshan Baig and K.C. Kondaiah, and Uttara Kannada Zilla Panchayat president Gayatri Gowda were present.

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