TUMAKURU: All India Congress Committee (AICC) leader Rahul Gandhi said on Saturday that if Karnataka party president DK Shivakumar and Congress Legislature Party leader Siddaramaiah work together, the party will win the assembly elections hands down next year.
"Everyone in the party understands that to win the assembly elections next year, two of our big leaders have to work as a team, and that is exactly what is happening and that is what is going to happen," Rahul said, addressing his third press conference in the last 31 days during the Bharat Jodo Yatra.
Flanked by Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar, Rahul said he is perfectly happy with their different viewpoints. "That's how it should be. Ours is not a fascist party," he said.
On who would be the chief minister if Congress wins the polls, the former AICC president said: "There is no dearth of brilliant leaders in the party. The party will follow due process and appoint one after taking the views of all stakeholders."
However, he added he is certain the Congress will win in 2023 because people are tired of the level of corruption under the BJP government. "They are also disturbed by price rise and unemployment in the state. So, our victory is imminent," he said.
On the BJP's allegations that all Congress leaders were out on bail, Rahul shot back: "As we know, BJP and RSS use all government institutions to attack their political rivals. This is the tactic they have been using, and this is how they topple the government..."
He also came down heavily on the BJP and RSS for "spreading hatred and violence" across the country. Rahul alleged that the National Education Policy 2020 has been specially designed to undo everything done in the past 75 years.
The yatra is in its Karnataka leg and marked its 31st day on Saturday by entering Tumukuru district, known as 'Kalpataru Nadu' (land of coconuts), from Mandya. It resumed at 6.40am and ended at Banasandra at 7pm with a five-hour break.
When asked how the rally had changed him as a person, Rahul said he believes in 'tapasya' and wants an element of suffering while interacting with people. "I didn't want the march to be easy. I wanted to do something that would make me suffer. While I am talking to my people, I can share my sufferings. That was the idea. Though it began 31 days ago for me, the learning has not yet begun."
He said the objective of Bharat Jodo Yatra is to bring India together.
"It's not for the 2024 elections. This is to combat the hatred spread by the BJP and RSS, as well as the massive concentration of wealth with a few individuals, which is destroying the Indian economy and leading to rising unemployment and price rise," he said.
Gubbi MLA set to join Cong
Gubbi MLA SR Srinivas, who was expelled from the JD(S), put an end to speculation about his future by joining the Bharat Jodo Yatra. He walked alongside Rahul Gandhi in the yatra.
Dalit leader KT Murali presented a Buddha idol to Rahul and accompanied him along with other leaders in the yatra. Rahul interacted with farmers, women, and youngsters during the course of the march on Saturday.
