Bengaluru: Congress leader Shri Rahul Gandhi, during his two-day Bengaluru visit, attended the Karnataka Congress Extended Executive at the party’s state headquarters in Bengaluru. The former Congress President held a meeting with the party’s frontal organization.

Shri Rahul Gandhi tacitly kicked off the party’s poll campaign for Karnataka by setting a target of over 150 seats for the party. He was accompanied by the Karnataka PCC President Shri D.K Shivakumar, Leader of Opposition Shri Siddaramaiah and other senior state party leaders.

Shri Rahul Gandhi echoed the ’40% commission minister’ remark during his speech at the party meeting and stated, “Karnataka government is the most corrupt. BJP’s aim is to snatch funds from the poor and give them to the rich. They want to divide the nation. But we want to raise real issues like the economy and unemployment. We want to unite the nation.” He further added, “Congress needs to focus on youth and women for the upcoming elections.”

“We should be very clear in our mind that we are going to get not less than 150 seats, and so, we should start our calculations for 150 seats. This is not a difficult task. This is actually quite an easy task for the Congress Party, if we get together, if we fight together in a united way, if we fight on the right issues and if we guarantee merit as the criteria for our candidates, for our leaders, for our workers,” he said.

On ticket distribution he said, “I don’t think we should be deciding tickets based on past history, what a person has done, 20 years ago. I think, we should be basing tickets on the work the person is doing for the Congress Party today. And if that person is behaving in a loyal way to the party, if that person is giving his full effort to the party, if that person is a good representative of the party, then the party must ensure that, that person is protected, that person is rewarded and that person gets the relevant position in the party”.

He further said, “We need to reward our workers and they should be very clear that when we do come to power in Karnataka, we are going to use the government in a way that defends the issues that our workers fought for, but we are also going to reward the Congress workers who gave their blood and tears for the party. So, that is from an organizational stand point.”

Shri Rahul Gandhi’s visit came at a time when the state is debating issues like the Hijab ban, restrictions on non-Hindu traders conducting business inside temple premises and the Halal meat row. Speculations are rife that his visit was set to kick off Karnataka Congress’ 2023 Assembly elections campaign.

Shri Rahul Gandhi visits late actor Puneeth Rajkumar’s family in Karnataka

BENGALURU: Congress leader Shri Rahul Gandhi visited the residence of late actor Puneeth Rajkumar on March 31, 2022, and paid tribute to the late Kannada superstar.

He was accompanied by the PCC President Shri D.K Shivakumar and Leader of Opposition Shri Siddaramaiah.

“I paid my condolences to Ashwini Puneeth Rajkumar and other family members of famous Kannada actor late Puneeth Rajkumar after visiting their home. Puneeth left unforgettable memories for all Kannadigas at a young age,” Shri Rahul Gandhi tweeted in Kannada after his visit.

AICC General Secretary In-charge Shri Randeep Singh Surjewala, the party’s Campaign Committee Chairman Shri M B Patil, and former Union Minister Shri KH Muniyappa also accompanied Shri Rahul Gandhi. Puneeth Rajkumar, had passed away on October 29 last year at the age of 46 following a cardiac arrest. He was admitted to Vikram Hospital in Bengaluru after experiencing chest pain, where he breathed his last. Son of matinee idol Rajkumar, Puneeth was fondly called ‘Appu’ by his fans.

Shri Rahul Gandhi offering his respects to Late Shivakumara Swamiji at Sree Siddaganga Math

Bengaluru: Congress leader Shri Rahul Gandhi visited Sree Siddaganga Math on March 31, 2022, to pay obeisance to late Shivakumara Swamiji of Siddaganga Math in Tumakuru on his 115thBirth Anniversary, who had earned the recognition of ‘Walking God.’

He paid his respects to the late pontiff (Priest) of the Siddaganga Math, who passed away in January 2019 at the age of 111.

There is a huge following for Shivakumara Swamiji in the state and the dominant Lingayat community adores him as ‘Walking God’ for his philanthropic work.

The seer saw to it that the Math he presided over became a shelter home and a centre for learning for many poor students from different parts of the state.