From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru

Bengaluru, Jul 13: That the assembly polls are due in Karnataka by May 2018, unless they are held earlier, is known to all. Naturally, the ruling Congress party in the State needs to gear itself to retain power. It is, therefore, obvious that the State unit of Congress party must have a war team to fight the polls.

Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi, who is slated to head the party at the national level certainly sooner than later, obviously realises the importance of ensuring that the party returns to power in the only big State under its control.

If this not evident to anybody from the way the Congress high command allowed Dr G Parameshwara to continue as the Karnataka Pradesh Committee (KPCC) President for the second term but after ensuring that he relinquished his Cabinet post as the State’s Home Minister, but appointing an additional Working President in former minister S R Patil along with Dinesh Gundu Rao.

While Dinesh Gundu Rao will look after Southern Karnataka, S R Patil is entrusted with responsibility of Northern Karnataka. Another hot contender for KPCC Chief’s post D K Shivakumar, who is the present Energy Minister, has been made the State party campaign committee chairman. In addition, Satish Jarkiholi of Belagavi has been elevated as AICC Secretary. Former Union Minister and Lok Sabha Member from Kolar K H Muniyappa, who also tried his best to become the State party chief, has been made a member of the all-important party body, Congress Working Committee.

And now, Rahul Gandhi has approved a really big or rather jumbo list of office-bearers.

The new list of office-bearers for KPCC approved by Rahul Gandhi, has as many as 17 Vice-Presidents, 57 General Secretaries, 96 Secretaries and one treasurer. In addition, senior party leaders such as former ministers B L Shankar, Rani Satish and B K Chandrashekar will also continue to be the KPCC Vice Presidents.

The new list of office-bearers for KPCC is certainly bigger than the previous one, which itself was huge comprising 13 Vice Presidents, 46 General Secretaries and 46 secretaries.

Other newly appointed vice-presidents are: Veeranna Mathikatti, Motamma, N Y Hanumanthappa, B Shivaram, H T Sangliyana, A M Hindasageri, Veerakumar Patil, D R Patil, L Hanumanthaiah, Prof. Radhakrishna, N S Boseraj, R Krishnappa, Mittu Chengappa, and K C Kondaiah.

Krishnam Raju is the new treasurer, who replaces former Minister and veteran leader Shamanur Shivashanakrappa.

With such a big or jumbo team of office-bearers plus Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and other Cabinet ministers and central leaders like Mallikarjuna Kharge, M Veerappa Moily, K H Muniyappa, Oscar Fernandes, B K Hariprasad, the ruling Congress party in Karnataka certainly has a war team to meet next year’s assembly poll battle.