From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
Bengaluru, Jan 18: Almost nine months after the formation of the Congress government following the State Assembly polls, the ruling Congress party is now ready with appointments to boards and corporations. As many as 36 legislators and 39 party workers will be appointed to boards and corporations, announced Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar in Bengaluru on Thursday.
“The list has been cleared by the Congress high command and the names will be announced shortly,’’ Shivakumar said speaking to media persons near Vidhana Soudha.
Shivakumar, who is also the KPCC Chief, said the Congress party’s Election Committee on Lok Sabha polls will be meeting at the Indira Gandhi Bhavan on Queen’s Road in Bengaluru at 4.30 pm on Friday.
The Deputy Chief Minister said the party leaders and workers had toiled for bringing the Congress party to power and now they are being rewarded.
He said the Lok Sabha election panel’s meeting was originally planned to be held in the morning on Friday.
However, due to the arrival of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the city on Friday the meeting will now be held in the evening.
The first round of the meeting on selection of Congress candidates in the Lok Sabha polls is being held in the city on Friday. Apart from all other members of the panel, senior party leaders Jagadish Shettar and Laxman Savadi have been extended special invitation.
The selection of Congress party candidates for the Lok Sabha polls is based on opinions collected by the party leaders from all the rank and file at the Constituency level and in the districts.
Asked about the reported reluctance of some ministers to contest as c candidates, Shivakumar said: “Everybody has to obey the party directions. If the party directs, all the chosen candidates have to contest. There is no exception for ministers and that includes me. If the party directs, I too will have to contest.’’
“Our goal is to win the maximum number of seats from Karnataka,’’ he said.
The KPCC Chief said he was confident of winning more than 25 seats out of 28 in Karnataka.
Will Win Over 25 Seats
To a question on the BJP and JDS contesting together with JDS joining NDA, he said: “It is their wish. They are free to contest and campaign together. It is part of democratic process.’’
“When Congress had aligned with JDS and had contested together, we too had high hopes of winning maximum number of seats. But ultimately, the Congress and JDS were able to win just one seat each in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. Let us see what happens this time. I can say Congress party is confident of bagging more than 25 seats,’’ he said.
Ram & Shiva Are With Us
Replying to a question on the claims by BJP leaders that the Congress party’s refusal to be part of the Ayodhya ceremony on January 22 with Prime Minister Narendra Modi as the focus would backfire on the Congress, he said: “We are not worried. We are clear in our stand. The Congress party firmly believes that religion and politics should never be mixed. If BJP is hoping to reap dividends because of Ram Mandir issue, it is their prerogative. The people are watching and they will decide.’’
Shivakumar said, “The Congress party knows that there is Ram in Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s name. There is Shiva in my name. So both Ram and Shiva are part of us,’’ and added that he personally believes that religion and politics should never be mixed.
“I have faith in all religions and communities and follow the religious traditions,” he said asserting that Ram Mandir issue will not affect the Congress party.