Months before assembly elections in the state, Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee President G. Parameshwara says that the party apparatus is in great shape and does not need an election strategist like Prashant Kishor to pull off a successful campaign.
Bengaluru: In the midst of a raging debate on a separate state flag, the upcoming assembly elections, and hectic conferences promoting social equity, Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) President G. Parameshwara has said that the party apparatus is all geared up ahead of the 2018 polls, and is already working actively on the ground level.
Speaking to ThePrint in Bangalore, Parameshwara claimed that the “Modi factor” would not turn the tide for the BJP in Karnataka.
“Here in Karnataka, it’s different. Modi’s effect is definitely not as much as in UP or some other state. Here, people see national and state election as separate from each other. Look at the trends in the state so far. If there is a party ruling in the Centre, the same is never in the state. So people here don’t get too swayed by this kind of thing.”
Parameshwara, who is also the former home minister in the Siddaramiah cabinet, also claimed that the state Congress did not need an election strategist like Prashant Kishor to give impetus to its election campaign.
“We have enough talent of our own. We don’t need Prashant Kishor or anyone here. Yes, it is good if there are agencies or experts who can give general guidelines, but it is ultimately the local persons and people on ground who engage with people and fight elections”, he said.
However, conceding that the BJP has an advantage in the RSS, Parameshwara said, “Yes, the BJP has a big advantage. They have RSS, the organised RSS workers which work for them.”
Parameshwara further added that the party was focusing on its booth level activities, and that its anti-corruption plank still stands strong.
“I don’t think there is much anti-incumbency. There is our record of good governance in the state. Last time we took the issue of corruption in the elections, and this is something that is still relevant against the BJP. We still have that advantage”, he said.
When asked about Rahul Gandhi’s leadership, and the state of affairs in the Congress, the PCC chief said that the party is currently going through a “transitional process”. Whenever there has previously been such a transition, the party has been in power at the Centre, thus making the process smoother. Being out of power at the Centre is causing some hiccups, he explained.
“Rahul Gandhi-ji is able to galvanise younger people. He is bringing new and technology driven politics in the party, in the All India Congress Committee, and the state PCCs. He is a very serious person, and one can see how much he has evolved over the years. It is going in the right direction,” Parameshwara said.