K’taka Cong hopes Rahul, Priyanka visits will counter-balance Modi ahead of election

BENGALURU: Expecting that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will make several visits to Karnataka before the next Assembly election which is less than a year away, the opposition Congress in the state plans to get Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Vadra to visit Karnataka ahead of the panchayat elections.

The state Congress leaders are planning to invite Priyanka to a mega women’s convention while they expect Rahul Gandhi to visit the state after the organisational elections.

The Congress is hoping that the zilla and taluk panchayat elections will be held by November.

If all goes well, the Gandhi scions may start visiting the state from July itself. The state Congress hopes to offset the effects of Modi’s probable visits by the presence of Rahul Gandhi and his sister Priyanka Vadra.

The party is also planning to rope in Priyanka for a statewide tour.