Mangalore (PTI): Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday slammed the erstwhile JDS-BJP coalition government in Karnataka charging it with "derailing progress and engaging in power struggle and corrupt practices."

Addressing an election rally three days ahead of the second phase of assembly election in the state from this coastal belt, regarded as a BJP stronghold, Gandhi attacked JDS branding the H D Devegowda-led outfit as "power hungry, corrupt, anti-democratic and anti-secular."

Her remarks came in the backdrop of Gowda, pulling down the Congress-led coalition led by N Dharam Singh in 2006 and later joining hands with BJP to share power.

Defending her party's tie-up with the JDS to form the government after the 2004 elections, she said due to lack of majority Congress joined hands with JDS.

"Later JDS, which is power hungry, joined hands with BJP", she said lashing out at her former coalition partner.

Asserting that only Congress can provide a stable government, Gandhi promised to turn Mangalore into another IT hub after Bangalore.

Gandhi stressing for electing her party government in Karnataka said "My party will write a new chapter in the history of the state, if voted to power," she said seeking the mandate.