Congress may delay Rahul Gandhi’s Karnataka assembly poll campaign

BENGALURU: Amid the blitzkrieg of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union home minister Amit Shah leading the BJP poll campaign in the state, the national leaders of Congress are yet to warm up to the fast approaching assembly polls.
After his Monday’s campaign, Modi will again visit Karnataka early March to inaugurate Bengaluru-Mysuru corridor. BJP national president JP Nadda and defence minister Rajanath singh will join Shah to flag off Vijaya Sankalpa Yatres between March 1 and 3.
Even the newbie Aam Aadmi Party has organised a rally for its national convener Arvind Kejriwal on March 5, in Davanagere. He will address a party workers and hold a raid show.
In contrast, the national party Congress is managing its campaign under the local leadership so far. KPCC president DK Shivakumar and Congress legislature party leader Siddaramaiah are leading Prajadhvani Yatres in south and north Karnataka respectively and it will go on till March end before they exchange the regions and continue it in April.

Rahul Gandhi was expected to visit Karnataka soon after the party plenary ended on Sunday, but functionaries said he may take time. Earlier, his visit was expected in February following the culmination of the Bharat Jodo Yatra on January 30, but it did not materialise.
While former president Sonia Gandhi has reportedly expressed her inability to campaign owing to health issues, AICC general secretary Priyanka Gandhi was expected to be more active on the ground. In fact, her visit was planned for a couple of times in early February, but it was cancelled for want of proper planning.
“The visits of national leaders are not expected any time soon as the party for now is focusing on the ongoing Prajadhvani Yatres led by Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah. As we have requested the participation of national leaders and that of Rahul especially, the timing of his visit and programmes for him are being discussed,” said KPCC working president Saleem Ahmed.
While the party is yet to complete a lot of pending works including constitution of the Congress Working Committee (CWC), central election committee (CEC) that will finalise the candidate for the assembly polls, the national leadership may chart out the state poll campaign led by Rahul in the later stage.
“The constitution of CEC is expected in a couple of days, following which the party will announce the first list of candidates ( about 150 candidates). While it is expected before March 10, other issues including the planning of campaigns led by national leaders will be taken up after the announcement of the first list,” said R Dhruvanarayan, KPCC working president.
However, the conspicuous absence of national leaders has not helped in boosting the morale of the cadre as many fear that the passive approach of the high command may give an edge to the BJP over Congress.
Belying any such fears, Priyank Kharge, chairman of KPCC media wing, said: “The BJP relies heavily on its national leadership since its state leaders have last credibility. Having said that, we will plan the programmes for our national leaders including president Mallikarjun Kharge in an organised way so that they will address rallies of targeted sections in the targeted regions.”