Congress to target BJP on corruption in Karnataka

 

New Delhi, 10 April 2013 (IANS): The Congress will target the BJP in Karnataka on corruption and will release a charge sheet ahead of the assembly polls, said party sources Wednesday.

 

"The charge sheet will be released April 13. We will also release our manifesto," said a Congress leader dealing with the state.

 

Former BJP chief minister B.S. Yeddyurappa was removed after the state Lokayukta’s report nailed corruption charges on the leader.

 

Yeddyurappa broke ranks with the BJP and formed his own Karnataka Janata Party, expected to dent the electoral prospects of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party.

 

The Congress manifesto will focus on development and good governance, said a leader. According to party sources, the top Congress leadership - including party chief Sonia Gandhi, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and party vice president Rahul Gandhi - will campaign in Karnataka.

 

"Each of them is expected to spend a few days campaigning in the state and is likely to address two to three rallies per day," said the Congress leader.

 

"The Congress will form a government on its own," he claimed.

 

Karnataka will vote May 5 for the 224-member house. A nominated member from the Anglo-Indian community makes the total strength  225. The half way mark is 113.

 

The results would be out May 8.

 

The Congress has announced its first list of 177 candidates and would announce the remaining 47 this week, said party sources.

 

Karnataka state Congress chief G. Parameshwar, legislative party leader Siddaramaiah and state women’s wing chief Manjula Naidu figure in the first list. Former state Congress chief R.V. Deshpande will contest from Haliyal constituency.

 

Eight women have been given tickets in the first list. Three more may get tickets, said sources.