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Karnataka
By Our Staff Correspondent
Mr. Ravi said this in reply to a query whether parliamentary elections would be advanced by the BJP-led NDA Government. Mr. Ravi was here to participate in the block-level conventions of party workers. Addressing a press conference at the party office, Mr. Ravi said he had read reports about the possibility of the Lok Sabha elections being held ahead of schedule. However, Mr. Ravi declined comment when asked whether Assembly elections in the State would be advanced. Asked what impact the move by the former BJP MP, Vijay Sankeshwar, who was contemplating launching a regional party, would have on the Congress, Mr. Ravi observed that his party had always survived threats from regional parties. In reply to a question, he clarified that the Congress had not changed its policy regarding entering into alliances with other parties. "The issue of alliance is not new to the party at the State level as we have had an alliance with the IUML in Kerala for a long time. In Punjab, we aligned with the CPI and, similarly, in other States such as Rajasthan, Maharashtra, etc. At Pachmarhi, we decided not to have an alliance at the national level. But, now as the threat from the BJP and the Sangh Parivar is increasing, especially after the riots in Gujarat, and with the BJP is supporting the imperialistic policies of the U.S., there is an increased threat to the unity and integrity of the country and its secular principles. There is a direct threat to our democracy. In view of this, the AICC President, Sonia Gandhi, announced at a press conference in Srinagar recently that if the need arises we are ready to enter into an alliance with like-minded parties at the national level also," he said. Mr. Ravi did not agree with the observation that the image of the Congress in the State had taken a nosedive and it was ill-equipped to face the Assembly elections because of its clumsy handling of issues such as the kidnap and murder of the former Minister, H. Nagappa, the power crisis, the Cauvery dispute, and the imbroglio over admissions to professional colleges. "The former minister was kidnapped and killed by the forest brigand and the State Government is making sincere efforts to nab him. "So far as the power crisis is concerned, it's mainly due to lack of rains. The State Government is doing its utmost to mitigate the crisis, but no electricity is available anywhere in the country. "I sincerely hope that the State Government will properly handle the issue of admissions to professional colleges. But it is wrong to say that the professional colleges are being run entirely by Congress leaders. Even leaders belonging to other parties are also running colleges," he observed. When his attention was drawn to the allegation by the Union Minister for Rural Development and Poverty Alleviation, Ananth Kumar, that the State Government had failed to make full use of the assistance given by the Centre to tackle the drought, Mr. Ravi accused the Centre of neglecting the State. Asked whether the Congress would fight the coming Assembly elections in the State under the leadership of Mr. Krishna in view of his "good performance", Mr. Ravi initially said: "That question doesn't arise." However, he hastened to add that as Mr. Krishna was a "leader", he would lead the party in the elections.
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