Rama Krishna Sangem
Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra added life to the sedate campaign of her party in Karnataka assembly elections. On April 26, Wednesday, she toured Mysoor region where Congress is trying to poach into JD(S) bastions, and mingled with people. She went into a hotel and entered its kitchen. There she interacted with hotel owners and tried her hand at Dosa making.
Karnataka Pradesh Congress top leader DK Shivakumar and AICC general secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala were with her. She went to Mysore’s old food joint, Mylari Hotel for breakfast in the morning. After relishing Idlis, she wanted to know how to make Doasa, in Karnataka style. The owner invited her into kitchen, but Priyanka failed to make them properly, as the Dosa batter got burnt, due to delay in flipping them.
Priyanka addressed a few meetings in the State including the one at Chikmangalur, from where her grandmother Indira Gandhi contested in late 70s and won. Priyanka’s campaign is somewhat different from that of her brother Rahul Gandhi, who focuses on serious issues. She too raised the same issues, and lambasted the BJP led Centre for trying to rob people of their rights, her speech style is more personal.
Congress leaders confident
As the campaign has entered final stages, Congress leaders in Karnataka are confident of coming to power, dethroning BJP. This is evident from body language of former CM Siddaramaiah when he met CM Basavaraj Bommai during campaign trail on April 26. Both are old friends and greeted each other. But, Sidda appeared confident when he patted Bommai, while the latter looked somewhat nervous.
Interestingly, BJP now has set aside its earlier stand and almost indicated that Bommai, a Lymgayat, would become CM again, if the party retains power. Earlier, the party preferred not to name anyone as CM till results are over. This shows, BJP is somewhat nervous about losing Lingayats support in pockets where they are strong. The defection of popular Lingayat leader Jagdish Shettar to Congress must have alerted BJP on this.
