Narayana Swamy
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore

Bangalore, Sep 27 : The Congress party in Karnataka has begun its preparations for next year's general assembly elections to be held for the state.

In a general body meeting held at Bangalore on Wednesday September 26 Karnataka Congress chief Dr G Parameshwara announced that this time, the ticket allotments will be done in Bangalore, and not in Delhi as in the past. He indicated that the names of the Congress candidates would be announced one month prior to the state elections. He urged party ticket aspirants not to camp in New Delhi or hold discussions with the high command.

During the meeting he disclosed that the election manifesto was getting finalized, and that Congress would make announce it very soon. His party's top priority will be the development of each of the 224 constituencies in terms of power, irrigation and rural development, he said.

'Join Congress - Bring Changes' will be the Congress mantra in the coming days and as many as 1,974 public meetings will be held across the 224 constituencies prior to the announcement of the elections, he said.

Another senior leader, Siddaramaiah criticised the state government and helod JD(S) solely responsible for bringing BJP to the power. "Now people of the state have come to know the true colours of both the BJP and the JD(S), hence Congress is only the alternative to the people," he said.

"JD(S) is strong in only four or five districts of the state, while BJP is counting its last days. It is shameful that BJP has been criticising a sincere and honest Prime Minister like Dr Manmohan Singh...why can't the same BJP talk about its own leaders who were sent to jail, and those who are still in jail," he questioned.

"If Yeddyrurappa becomes CM again, then Karnataka will go bankrupt," he said.