Rahul, Kharge arrive in poll-bound Karnataka

Belagavi (Agencies):

Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi arrived in Karnataka on Monday to address a public rally of youths organised in Belagavi city.

Karnataka Congress chief DK Shivakumar and Leader of the Opposition in Karnataka Assembly Siddaramaiah welcomed Rahul Gandhi at the Sambra Airport.

AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge, who accompanied Rahul Gandhi, was also extended a warm welcome.

The Belagavi city is decked up with posters, welcoming cut-outs and banners for the grand welcome of Rahul Gandhi. The party sources claimed that more than 1 lakh youths are participating in the convention.

The visit of Rahul Gandhi assumes significance as there are 18 assembly seats in Belagavi district and Congress had won only five of them in the last assembly elections.

K’TAKA ELECTIONS WILL SEND OUT A MESSAGE TO THE NATION: KHARGE

Belagavi: Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge said on Monday that the upcoming Karnataka polls are very crucial as it will send out a message to the entire nation. He addressed the ‘Yuva Kranti Samavesha’, a youth convention. Stating that the Congress used to register victory in 15 to 16 constituencies out of the 18 in Belagavi, Kharge said that considering the present scenario, the party will sweep all the seats in the district this time. “The state has never wirnessed corruption at this scale as it is seeing now. Why did Amit Shah not order a probe into the allegations levelled by contractors’ associations? The police have been sent to Rahul Gandhi’s residence for his statement made in Kashmir 46 days back. In Karnataka, even after proofs are provided, no probe is ordered,” Kharge said.

The Congress, which is confident of returning to power, wants to increase its tally in Belagavi districts by winning seats in two dig - its. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had held a 10.8 kilometer roadshow in Belagavi and addressed a huge public rally already.