Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (SP)

Mangalore, Feb 24: Speaking to reporters in the city on Monday February 23, Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president R V Deshpande said, that in all probability, the list of the party candidates for the Loksabha election from the state, would be released by the second week of March.

It may be recalled, that the party leaders had earlier said, that the list would be out by the last week of February. He attributed the delay, to the replacement of the state-in-charge of Congress affairs Prathiraj Chouhan, with Gulam Nabi Azad. "Azad will be visiting the state shortly, to hold detailed talks about the finalization of the Congress list. Discussions are also on with the central leadership of the party. The List will be released after all these processes," Deshpande clarified.

Seeking to put at rest the speculations about the proposal to remove Mallikarjun Kharge from the post of the opposition leader in the assembly, he said Kharge continues in that post, and no decision as yet, has been taken to replace him. About the protest being held in some quarters against the proposed move, he felt that organizing protests based on rumours was not right.

"My party is opposed to the forcible acquisition of farmers' lands for the purpose of building airport in Bellary," he said.

On Monday, which happened to be  Mahashivaratri, Deshpande visited Kadri Manjunatheshwara temple in the city and offered special puja.