Congress ready if early elections are held in Karnataka: D K Shivakumar
Bengaluru, Mar 29: Karnataka Congress chief D K Shivakumar on Tuesday said his party is prepared to face the electorate in case early assembly elections are held in the state, while cryptically mentioning November 27 as a possible date for announcement.
Meanwhile, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will be visiting the state later this week and holding a series of meetings with leaders and office bearers, as the party prepares for the assembly polls scheduled next year.
"Let them (Election Commission) do it (announce elections) whenever they want...let them announce tomorrow itself, this month, on November 27 or March (next year). The Congress party is ready," Shivakumar told reporters here in response to a question on the possibility of early assembly elections in the state.
Asked about him specifically mentioning November 27 as the date of announcement, he said, "We too get certain information, as you people (reporters) get."
Sharing details of Rahul Gandhi's visit to the state, Shivakumar said he is coming to Karnataka on March 31, and will be visiting Siddaganga mutt, a prominent Lingayat mutt in Tumakuru district, to offer respects to the gadduge (final resting place) of Shivakumara Swamiji on his 115th birth anniversary.
"After arriving in Bengaluru at about 2 pm, he will directly visit the mutt and return to the city, where he will be meeting party leaders of Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) limits at the Congress office, and on April 1 at 11 am he will be meeting the extended executive committee of state Congress including lawmakers, defeated candidates, former MPs and office-bearers," he said.
Gandhi will also have a Zoom call with party workers actively engaged in the Congress membership drive, and a separate meeting is likely with Youth Congress, Mahila Congress, NSUI and Seva Dal, Shivakumar said, adding that about 47 lakh members have been enrolled into the party in Karnataka, and this is highest in the whole country.
Responding to a question on whether the Congress is displaying soft Hindutva, with Rahul Gandhi visiting mutts ahead of assembly polls, Shivakumar pointed out that the Gandhi family has a long association with mutts and religious institutions.
"The family has visited thousands of mutts. Indira Gandhi had visited Sringeri mutt, Rajiv Gandhi spent an entire week at the Sringeri mutt doing a homa (fire ritual). Even Sonia Gandhi had visited the Siddaganga mutt," he noted.
The KPCC President said he has asked Congress workers and leaders to garland their motor vehicles and gas cylinders on March 31 and post photos and videos of it on social media by tagging Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in protest against price rise.
He said, on April 7, protest rallies will be held against price rise in the districts.
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LIC announces relaxations for victims of Pahalgam Terror Attack
(Press Release) - LIC of India expresses deep grief over the death of innocent citizens at Pahalgam in the terrorist attack on 22.04.2025
LIC of India is committed to supporting those affected and will expedite claim settlements to provide financial relief.
Siddharta Mohanty, CEO & MD , LIC announced many concessions to mitigate the hardships of the claimants of LIC Policies.In lieu of death certificates, any evidence in Government Records of death of the policyholder due to the terrorist attack or any compensation paid by Central/State Government will be accepted as proof of death.
All efforts will be taken to ensure that the claimants are reached out and claims are settled expeditiously to the affected families.
For further assistance the claimants may contact the nearest LIC Branch/Division/Customer Zones.
The claimants may also call at our call centre -022 68276827
Dated at Mumbai on April 24th, 2025
For Further Information please contact: Executive Director (CC) LIC of India, Central Office, Mumbai.
Email id: ed_cc@licindia.com
Visit us at www.licindia.in
