BENGALURU: With the Lok Sabha election next year, the Congress seems to have speeded up its ‘Operation Hastha’. After wooing the Lingayats and Vokkaligas, the party is focusing on the minority community.
Some minority leaders in the JD(S) are already upset with the alliance with BJP and the Congress is looking to take advantage of the dissent within the JD(S) and has and has given an open invitation for JDS Muslim leaders to switch sides.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM D K Shivakumar together are leading the Congress battle charge. Both participated in the Bearys Souharda Bhavana building inauguration programme held at HBR Layout in Bengaluru on Saturday evening and promised huge grants.
Addressing the occasion, Siddaramaiah said, “Before I took over as CM, there was a demand from the Muslim community for Rs 400 crore grants towards development. After I took charge, the grant has been increased to Rs 3,000 crore though there was no such request. Even now, I will give more grants. Next, I will raise it to Rs 10,000 crore by the end of my tenure. This is my job”. The CM said that the wealth of the state should be available to all.
Deputy CM D K Shivakumar openly invited B M Farooq saying “This is the right time to join the Congress”. Other Congress leaders too are openly inviting JD(S) leaders and minority leaders are likely to join the Congress soon.