Sonia kicks off poll campaign in Gulbarga on development plank

Ahead of the third phase of the Karnataka Assembly elections, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi on Saturday...

Ahead of the third phase of the Karnataka Assembly elections, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi on Saturday, while kicking off the Congress campaign, urged locals in Gulbarga to bring the Congress to power in the state.

The third and last phase of polling in Karnataka will take place on May 22. Sonia in her 15-minute speech in the state’s most backward district, also reiterated the state Congress’s promises.

Sonia, who addressed a public rally of around 8,000 people at the Gulbarga police grounds, cautioned voters against bringing the BJP or JD (S) to power. “They have been in power the last few years and see what they have brought you. Nothing. Only the Congress can bring development to Gulbarga,” Sonia said. Sonia was flanked by Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president, Mallikarjun Kharge, former Karnataka chief minister Dharam Singh, State election in-charge for the Congress, Prithviraj Chauhan and Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilas Rao Deshmukh.

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“Gulbarga is an example of communal harmony and I’m lucky to get the opportunity to address you all,” Sonia said, referring to Gulbarga’s twin tourist attractions: the Khwaza Bande Nawaz Dargah and the Sharanabasaveshwara Temple.

Though Sonia didn’t talk of amending Article 371 to include Karnataka, she spoke about the Congress’s developmental schemes in the region. “Other than the Rs 60,000 crore loan waiver to farmers, the Congress has also brought in schemes like NREGA and JNNURM,” Sonia stated. She also added that if elected the Congress would fulfill all promises made.

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