The meeting was attended by former Chief Minister and Congress Legislature Party leader Siddaramaiah (Image: Representational)
Lok Sabha elections 2019: Days after the high command appointed new Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president and working president, the Congress in Karnataka begun preparations for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls with an intention of defeating the 'communal forces.'
As a first step, the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee on Monday held discussions with candidates who were defeated in the May
12 assembly polls to introspect about the reasons for the loss and to strengthen the party for the future.
The meeting was attended by former Chief Minister and Congress Legislature Party leader Siddaramaiah, Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara and newly appointed KPCC chief Dinesh Gundu Rao.
Catch all the latest news about Indian politics HERE
"For the coming Lok Sabha elections we have to fight with new vigour and defeat the communal forces. To keep them out of power, we have formed a coalition government with JD(S)," Siddaramaiah told reporters after the meeting.
He said those present at the meeting raised some issues and he assured them that these would be taken up with the Ministers concerned or in the coordination committee.
With the May 12 assembly polls in Karnataka throwing up a hung verdict, Congress and JD(S) that had bitterly fought each other, forged an alliance to keep out BJP,which emerged as the single largest party, winning 104 of 224 seats.
Seat sharing between Congress and JD(S),that have decided to go together for Lok Sabha polls, is expected to be a major
test for the coalition. The Congress high command recently appointed Dinesh Gundu Rao as KPCC President and Easwar Khandre as the new working president. Both will assume charge on Wednesday.
Catch all the latest news about Lok Sabha elections 2019 HERE
Rao said the meet also discussed internal affairs of the party and steps to strengthen it.
