KPCC president DK Shivakumar on Tuesday said party leaders need to gear up for the upcoming local body elections in the state.
He was speaking at former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi’s death anniversary program held at the KPCC office here.
Mr. Shivakumar said that the party will reach out to a huge number of workers by holding elections to local bodies in gram, taluk and zilla panchayats in the state and urban local bodies like Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike. He said that he is committed to providing opportunities for people in this group.
“It doesn’t matter whether the elections are small or big.Many leaders like Pandit Nehru, Rajagopalachari, Kengal Hanumantaiah, BD Jatti, Mallikarjun Kharge etc. started their political careers through local body elections. “We started and accomplished many great things in that era,” he said.
Shivakumar, who is also the deputy chief minister, warned party workers and leaders and said it was time to dissolve all cells and wings of the party. This is because many leaders failed to meet expectations.
“Those who are not active and fail to get party leadership in their respective booths in elections will be eliminated,” he said.
Mr. Shivakumar said that gone are the days when stepping out of a luxurious vehicle in a crisp white kurta meant getting a party ticket, and now every booth is dedicated to the growth of the party. He added that it’s time to reward those who work hard.
Shivakumar, who also served as KPCC president for four years, said he did not know how long he would continue in the role. He said his priority was to set up a strong party structure at the grassroots level. “The next four months will be challenging for everyone. We are introducing new systems to support the growth of leaders at the grassroots level,” he said.
Mr. Shivakumar slammed UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s statement that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi travels abroad whenever there is a crisis in the country, saying that the Bharatiya Janata Party has lost this election. Mr. Adityanath said he would have to retake Sanyas.
“Our leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi sacrificed power for the sake of the country. As a sanyasi, he has done no such thing,” he said.
issued May 21, 2024, 22:21 IST
