KPCC Chief Parameshwara to tour opposition-held constituencies from Dec 27

The ruling Congress in Karnataka, will start its poll campaign from December 27 in the Assembly constituencies held by opposition parties, KPCC president G Parameshwara said Tuesday.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's government sponsored poll tour is scheduled to begin from December 13. It will cover Assembly segments represented by the Congress.

"I will campaign in Assembly constituencies where Congress candidates lost in the 2013 election. All party leaders will participate," Parameshwara told reporters.

Siddaramaiah and Parameshwara have been at loggerheads over campaigning across the state.The KPCC chief was upset with the chief minister for not taking him into confidence while planning the party's poll strategy.

Apparently, Siddaramaiah didn't consult Parameshwara before finalising his state tour December 13.

When their spat became public, AICC general secretary in-charge of Karnataka K C Venugopal intervened to sort it out stating: "Siddaramaiah will visit Congress-ruled constituencies and Parameshwara will tour non-Congress constituencies".

The Karnataka Congress had hoped to bring Rahul Gandhi to the poll-bound state soon after he is elected AICC president.

"Rahul is slated to take charge as AICC president on December 16. I'm going to Delhi that day. We will organize a mega event either in Bengaluru or Chikkamagalur where Rahul will participate. The mega event will be held wherever Rahul wants it to be," Parameshwara said.