Congress kicks off election campaign in K'taka

Mysore, Mar 16 (UNI) The Congress kicked off its election campaign for the Karnataka Assembly polls with a mammoth rally here today, even as former Chief Minister S M Krishna, who was brought back to the centrestage of Karnataka politics, was conspicuous by his absence.

Sources close to Mr Krishna, however, said the leader had to rush to Mumbai to attend a meeting in his honour. KPCC President Mallikajuna Kharge, who inaugurated the rally, urged the party workers to remain united and work hard for the party's victory in the elections. Coming down heavily on the BJP and the JD(S), he alleged that the the JD(S)-BJP coalition government had done enough damage to the state during their 20-month-rule. AICC General Secretary in charge of party affairs in the state Prithviraj Chauhan, on the occasion, highlighted the achievements of the UPA government at the Centre.

He alleged that the previous JD(S)-BJP coalition government had negelected the problems of the people, particularly the farming community.

Denying reports that he had quit the Congress and joined the BJP, Congress leader M H Ambareesh said he would only serve the Congress and asked the party workers to bring back the party to power.

Union Ministers K H Muniyappa and Rajasekharan, former Union Ministers C K Jaffer Sharief, B Janardhana Poojari and V Srinivasa Prasad were present on the occasion.

UNI