Congress: Avoid attacks on PM Modi: Congress signal in Karnataka | Karnataka Election News – Times of India
BENGALURU: The Congress leadership has informally asked candidates and functionaries to refrain from attacking PM Modi and getting into Hindutva-versus-secularism debates during the campaign for the May 10 Karnataka assembly elections, reports Anil Gejji.
“If we say anything against Modi, it will be blown out of proportion and efforts will be made to change the poll narrative…” is the message learned to have been conveyed at a meeting last week.
Congress to focus on Centre ‘failures’, price rise
The leadership is learned to have cited “twisting” of party chief Mallikarjun Kharge’s comments against PM Modi during the Gujarat polls.
Congress has instead decided to focus on what it called the failures of BJP-led Centre and state government as well as corruption charges, and price rise. Congress will also go to town in a big way with its four “big” pre-poll promises – 200 units of free electricity, Rs 2,000 a month to women heads of families, Rs 3,000 a month to unemployed graduates and 10kg rice for each member of BPL families.
Sources said the informal instructions were given out at a meeting last week of 124 candidates whose names have been announced. State Congress president DK Shivakumar, opposition leader Siddaramaiah and AICC general secretary Randeep Surjewala were present at the meeting. “Our election plank will be failures of the state and the central BJP government, 40% commission charge and issues like price rise and unemployment. We will also aggressively highlight our poll promises,” KPCC working president Ramalinga Reddy said. He, however, said no decision has been taken on steering clear of attacks on the PM.
With its ‘PayCM’ campaign over the 40% kickback allegations against BJP and the rise in price of essential commodities gaining traction ahead of the elections, Congress is treading the ground cautiously to disallow BJP any leverage to tilt the tide. This has been the party’s approach past year – no controversial issues tied to religion. It even tamped down its initial aggressive stand on hijab and halal and sought to distance itself from the Uri Gowda-Nanje Gowda issue (characters who some believe killed Mysore king Tipu Sultan). Congress didn’t oppose government’s decision to scrap 4% OBC reservation for Muslims as strongly as was expected.
“If we say anything against Modi, it will be blown out of proportion and efforts will be made to change the poll narrative…” is the message learned to have been conveyed at a meeting last week.
Congress to focus on Centre ‘failures’, price rise
The leadership is learned to have cited “twisting” of party chief Mallikarjun Kharge’s comments against PM Modi during the Gujarat polls.
Congress has instead decided to focus on what it called the failures of BJP-led Centre and state government as well as corruption charges, and price rise. Congress will also go to town in a big way with its four “big” pre-poll promises – 200 units of free electricity, Rs 2,000 a month to women heads of families, Rs 3,000 a month to unemployed graduates and 10kg rice for each member of BPL families.
Sources said the informal instructions were given out at a meeting last week of 124 candidates whose names have been announced. State Congress president DK Shivakumar, opposition leader Siddaramaiah and AICC general secretary Randeep Surjewala were present at the meeting. “Our election plank will be failures of the state and the central BJP government, 40% commission charge and issues like price rise and unemployment. We will also aggressively highlight our poll promises,” KPCC working president Ramalinga Reddy said. He, however, said no decision has been taken on steering clear of attacks on the PM.
With its ‘PayCM’ campaign over the 40% kickback allegations against BJP and the rise in price of essential commodities gaining traction ahead of the elections, Congress is treading the ground cautiously to disallow BJP any leverage to tilt the tide. This has been the party’s approach past year – no controversial issues tied to religion. It even tamped down its initial aggressive stand on hijab and halal and sought to distance itself from the Uri Gowda-Nanje Gowda issue (characters who some believe killed Mysore king Tipu Sultan). Congress didn’t oppose government’s decision to scrap 4% OBC reservation for Muslims as strongly as was expected.
