Rahul Gandhi kicks off poll campaign in Karnataka,targets BJP for 8216;looting8217; state

The Congress,led by its vice-president Rahul Gandhi,gave a major thrust to its campaign in the six backward districts of Hyderabad-Karnataka region

The Congress,led by its vice-president Rahul Gandhi,gave a major thrust to its campaign in the six backward districts of Hyderabad-Karnataka region by leveraging on the special development status bestowed on the region. Forty out of the total 224 Assembly seats are from these districts.

Addressing a rally at Sindhanoor,in Raichur district,Rahul said,The last time I came here for the 2009 general election,I made one promise of giving this region recognition under article 371J. We have fulfilled it. Unlike others we work on our promises. We are promising food subsidy,rural employment. We will be a government that is for all not just for one or two people.

Though Sindhanoor is one of the well-irrigated regions of north Karnataka thanks to river Tunga Bhadra,the surrounding regions are not. Due to poor returns from farming,the region is witnessing mass migration to cities like Bangalore,which is 500 km away. More and more cases of malnutrition among children too are being reported.

Rahul also made a few promises if elected. We will provide three phase power for eight hours every day. We will invest Rs 10,000 crore to complete irrigation projects in the Krishna basin, he said.

He also flayed the BJP for letting down the state. The BJP has removed the sparkle around Karnataka. They promised 24 hours of power supply,employment and drinking water for all. They have forgotten their promises and have only looked at how to loot the state, Rahul said.

Referring to Reddy brothers of Bellary,he said the BJP handed over Karnataka on a platter to two brother after they delivered 40 seats in the 2008 polls. Bellary is one of the districts in the Hyderabad-Karnataka region. The others are Raichur,Gulbarga,Bidar,Koppal,and Yadagir districts.