Karnataka - Bangalore

Over five lakh people expected at Congress rally tomorrow

Staff Reporter

Sonia Gandhi coming; change is in the air, says Siddaramaiah

GETTING READY FOR THE SHOW: Congress leaders H.K. Patil, M. Mallikarjun Kharge, N. Dharam Singh, R.V. Deshpande and Siddaramaiah during inspection at Palace Grounds in Bangalore on Friday. — Photo: V. Sreenivasa Murthy

BANGALORE: Former Deputy Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has spoken of major political changes in the offing and also of an exodus from the Janata Dal (Secular) to the Congress after the September 3 rally at which he will formally merge his All India Progressive Janata Dal (AIPJD) with the Congress.

Over five lakh people are expected to converge on the sprawling Palace Grounds on Sunday for the rally, which will be addressed by All India Congress Committee (AICC) president Sonia Gandhi.

Mr. Siddaramaiah told presspersons here on Friday after State Congress leaders and he reviewed the preparations for Sunday's rally that "Change is in the air, AIPJD is joining the Congress because we do not wish to allow communal and casteist forces to gain strength and weaken the secular fabric."

Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president M. Mallikarjun Kharge spoke in a similar vein and said Ms. Sonia Gandhi was expected to enthuse the party workers and unveil a strategy for the Congress to return to power after the Janata Dal (S) broke.

He predicted that after the Sunday's convention, Janata Dal (S) party workers would begin to leave that party in droves, and move closer to the Congress, articulating their disenchantment with the party president and former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda.

Mr. Siddaramaiah averred that the Janata Dal (S) tie-up with the Bharatiya Janata Party had angered many in the Janata Dal (S) rank and file, and the merger of AIPJD with the Congress would be the harbinger of a new wave that would change the State's political scenario.

Secular forces were uniting on September 3 to effectively counter the onslaught of the communal BJP through its "unholy alliance" with the Janata Dal (S), he said.

Former Union Minister C.M. Ibrahim, who is a part of the Uttar Pradesh United Democratic Front, floated by the Imam Bhukari, will not be present at the rally, and will be joining the Congress at a later date. Neither will any of the Janata Dal (S) MLAs who are supporting Mr. Siddaramaiah, as they are facing an inquiry by the Speaker Krishna.

Sonia's programme

The highlight of Sunday's rally will be Ms. Sonia Gandhi's visit.

She was coming to Bangalore for the first time after the party's organisational polls, Mr. Kharge said.

Security arrangements were elaborate and tight, and apart from the VVIP and VIP enclosures an arrangement had been made to place three lakh chairs for party workers who were coming in from all corners of the State, he said. Eight entrances, ample parking, first aid and emergency services, including ambulances, were being provided, and the Bangalore Mahanagara Palike had been asked to ensure drinking water supply.

Congress leaders A.K. Anthony and Oscar Fernandes will arrive on Saturday to oversee the arrangements. They would decide who would share the dais with Ms. Sonia Gandhi and address the rally, Mr. Kharge said.

AICC member K.K. Murthy spoke.

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