KPCC chief seeks secret reports on how dist ministers, MLAs work

Bengaluru, Jan 7: State Congress president G Parameshwara has reportedly asked all district and block party heads to submit reports on the style of functioning of the respective district in-charge ministers and party legislators.

Parameshwara is learnt to have told the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) office bearers as well as district and block Congress presidents that the All India Congress Committee (AICC) had decided to evaluate the functioning of the ministers and the legislators. District and block party presidents are supposed to submit the reports in sealed cover by the end of February. It is, however, unclear if the chief minister's work would be evaluated similarly.

Parameshwara had called a meeting of KPCC office bearers, district and block party presidents on Tuesday to review the ongoing membership drive. It is speculated that the evaluation is aimed at rejigging the Congress government in Karnataka in the days to come. The move to get secret reports comes at a time when many legislators are unhappy with the way some ministers work.

Change in ideology?

According to Parameshwara, Congress president Sonia Gandhi and vice president Rahul Gandhi are weighing in whether or not to make certain changes in the party's ideology in the wake of its persistent electoral losses. They have already met presidents of all state Congress units in this regard and directed them to give reports on the feedback of party workers, he added.

Membership drive

With the rival BJP, led by its president Amit Shah, conducting an extensive drive to enrol members in Karnataka, Parameshwara too asked Congress workers to intensify the party's own membership drive. The Congress aimed to enrol 40 lakh new members by the end of December but achieved only 26 lakhs. Hence, it has extended the deadline to February-end. The BJP has set a target of one crore new members in the State.

Parameshwara is learnt to have defended the lower target, saying the Congress wants quality, not quantity. He reportedly asked district and block presidents to intimate him if any legislator and minister refuses to take part in the membership drive.