Cong now on ghar vapsi to bring back loyalists

The Canara Post Exclusive

Udupi, Sep 26: In a move to strengthen the party at the grass-root level, Congress is planing ‘Ghar Vapsi,’ of sorts to activate those senior leaders and workers who have distanced themselves from the party activities.

Congress still enjoys a strong base in the state, But one of the problems which the party is facing is the inactiveness of many seniors.

Though they are not those who enjoyed power, these were the people who had built the party and helped in bringing Congress to power through their speeches, strategies, and organizing capacities.

Congress is trying to contact the party workers and leaders who are inactive. Many of them still want to work for the party but were silent as they feel neglected. The party wants their service to strengthen the base. Few names from the coastal districts too are in the list

Due to various issues including the internal politics and negligence shown by some of the top leaders, many local leaders had turned silent. While they have not joined BJP, they are not active in Congress.

Though the party leadership did not take this seriously in the beginning, it has now realized the importance of such leaders now. After DK Shivakumar took the rein of the party affairs, he is turning no stone unturned to get back the party’s glory.

In Canara Coast:
Congress always enjoyed a strong base in the Canara coast. Senior leaders like Ullal Srinivas Mallya, B Janardhan Poojary, M Veerappa Moily, and Oscar Fernandes who entered the legislature several times had good support of the people and also closely associated with the Nehru family.

However, in the last 10 years, the Coastal Karnataka is witnessing a lack of leadership. While BJP and Sangh Parivar have many speakers and people who can attract the people and also attack the opposition, there is a dearth of such people in Congress. One of the major problems the party is facing is the silence of several leaders who had once toiled for the party.

Leaders like Janardhan Poojary, Oscar Fernandes had a strong fan following. They had a team which was actively working for the party and had organizing skill. Today these two leaders are away from active politics due to their health issues. Many of their men are now inactive as they feel neglected.

“A few years ago we had seen how BJP contacted its senior workers. That move had helped the party at the grassroots level. Similarly, now Congress leaders too want to contact the workers and leaders who had toiled for the party but are inactive now,” a Congress leader told The Canara Post.

“The names of such senior leaders who had once served the party but in recent years are silent are being collected. The party is trying to contact them. Many of them still want to work for the party but were silent as they feel neglected. The party wants their service to strengthen the base. Few names from the coastal districts too are in the list,” he said.

Congress leaders feel that the party is still strong in the region.

“In the 2013 election, the party had swept the Canara coast which is proof that the party is still strong. People still believe us. What we need is a strong base which can be done only by building the grassroot level,” he added.