Cong to set house in order ahead of Rahul's visit

 The Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) on Saturday sought to put an end to internal bickering ahead of Rahul Gandhi’s tentative tour of the state next month, during which he is expected to address 66,000 booth-level agents of the party.

Exactly when and where Rahul Gandhi will tour the state is yet to be finalised, KPCC working president Dinesh Gundu Rao said.

Readying the poll pitch, KPCC president G Parameshwara said all booth-level committees will be formed by the end of this month and workers will fan out for a door-to-door campaign highlighting the party’s achievements. 

Adopting a one-person-one-post policy, the party has decided to appoint new presidents to the district units of Hassan, Mandya, Vijayapura and Ballari whose incumbent heads — G Shivaram, Atmanand, Ravigowda Patil and Anjaneyulu, respectively —  were recently appointed to other posts.

Party workers, too, had complaints and sought changes in the district units. Similarly, heads of 23 district units will also be changed, Parameshwara told office-bearers at a meeting. 

JD(S) made me an offer: Ibrahim

Former Union minister C M Ibrahim revealed on Saturday that he was made an offer by the JD(S) to join the party. “Prettier the woman, more the suitors,” Ibrahim said, referring to the offer. The Congress high command has cleared Ibrahim’s name to contest in the upcoming Legislative Council bypoll.

‘ACB plaint was an inside job’

Dinesh Gundu Rao claimed that the ACB complaint of land denotification against former chief minister B S Yeddyurappa was the handiwork of those within the BJP. “I’m told the person who filed the complaint has links to the BJP. It’s clearly an internal conspiracy. The Congress or the state government have nothing to do with the complaint,” Rao said.