From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru

Bengaluru, Dec 12: Warmly congratulating Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi on his election as the President of the Indian National Congress Party, Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) President Dr G Parameshwara expressed confidence that the party would regain its glory under Gandhi’s dynamic leadership.

The KPCC Chief said he and lakhs of Congress workers in Karnataka and all over the country were extremely happy at Gandhi’s election and felt better days were on the anvil for the party starting with Gujarat assembly elections and next year’s assembly elections in Karnataka.

Pointing out that India is a country with over 50 per cent population below the age of 25 and 65 per cent below the age of 35 years, Dr Parameshwara said 47-year-old Gandhi was a young GenNext leader who was aware of the problems, challenges and aspirations facing the younger generation and would strengthen the party with his vision and zeal. He understands what it takes to lead the party in modern and aspirational India.

Dr Parameshwara lauded the leadership of Sonia Gandhi, who had led the party for a record 19 years, and held it together successfully overcoming the odds and challenges in several elections at the national level and in the States.

"I wish the best of health and happiness to Ms Gandhi and pray that she continues to guide the party in future too," he said.

The KPCC Chief said he will be leaving for Delhi on December 16 to meet and personally greet Gandhi along with KPCC Working Presidents Dinesh Gundu Rao and S R Patil while the Chief Minister Siddaramaiah was likely to leave on Tuesday itself as he has some other engagements on December 16.

Answering questions from reporters on the Raj Bhavan Chalo campaign by State BJP leaders to protest against the murders of Hindu leaders, Dr Parameshwara said murders do take place and it is wrong to attribute any religious or communal colour to such murders. The police are doing their best to investigate and book the culprits, he said.

However, he strongly condemned the attempts by BJP to vitiate the atmosphere by attributing political or communal motives to derive political mileage and polarise communities along religious or communal lines ahead of assembly elections.

The KPCC Chief said the party will undertake pre-election campaign tours of all the 224 constituencies in the State by the end of this month. While the Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will be touring in 124 constituencies won by Congress in the 2014 elections and in some of the key constituencies won by the opposition parties, he and other party leaders will be touring 100 constituencies where the party lost and the tours will commence in the last week of this month. The tour schedules will be announced in the next couple of days, he said

To another question on Justice Sadashiva Commission report, Dr Parameshwara said the State Government would take a suitable decision on the basis of the report. "The Commission was set up by the Congress government headed by S M Krishna and I was part of that government. We will support any decision that will be taken by the State Government on the report," he said.

He made it clear that his meeting with Social Welfare Minister H Anjaneya was in connection with some works pertaining to his constituency and not for discussing the Sadashiva Commission report.