19-04-2023 : The Congress party has unveiled its list of star campaigners for the upcoming Karnataka Assembly elections, and it includes several prominent names from within the party. Sonia Gandhi, the former Congress president, and Rahul Gandhi, the current party leader, are featured in the list, along with Shashi Tharoor, a well-known party member known for his eloquence and intellect.
One notable inclusion in the star campaigners list is Jagadish Shettar, the former Chief Minister of Karnataka, who recently joined the Congress after quitting the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Shettar, who has been given the party ticket from the Hubli-Dharwad-Central Assembly segment that he currently represents, has found a place in the list, despite his recent switch in political allegiance. This move by the Congress is seen as an attempt to leverage Shettar’s influence and popularity in the region to bolster their electoral prospects.
Interestingly, Sachin Pilot, a prominent Congress leader from Rajasthan, who was part of the star campaigners list for the 2018 Karnataka polls, is conspicuous by his absence in the current list. This has raised eyebrows and led to speculation about the reasons behind his exclusion. Pilot has been at odds with the Congress leadership in Rajasthan in recent times, and his omission from the star campaigners list in Karnataka could be seen as a reflection of the internal dynamics within the party.
The Congress’ list of star campaigners also includes several other notable leaders from Karnataka, such as former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who has been a key figure in the state politics for many years, and D K Shivakumar, the current Karnataka Congress chief known for his organizational skills. Other prominent names like Jairam Ramesh, M Veerappa Moily, M B Patil, G Parameshwara, K H Muniyappa, and BK Hariprasad, who have been influential leaders in Karnataka, are also part of the list.
In addition to leaders from Karnataka, the star campaigners list features prominent Congress leaders from other states, including Ashok Gehlot, the Chief Minister of Rajasthan, Bhupesh Baghel, the Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh, and Sukhwinder Singh Sukku, the Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh. Randeep Surjewala, the All India Congress Committee (AICC) in-charge of Karnataka, and other senior party leaders like Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, K C Venugopal, P Chidambaram, Prithviraj Chavan, and Ashok Chavan are also included in the list.
Apart from established politicians, the star campaigners list also features some popular faces, such as Mohammed Azharuddin, a former cricketer and Member of Parliament, and Kanhaiya Kumar, a prominent youth leader known for his activism. Divya Spandana, also known as Ramya, an actress-turned-politician, and Imran Pratapgarhi, a poet and social activist, are also part of the list, showcasing the party’s effort to appeal to a diverse range of voters.
The Karnataka Assembly elections are scheduled for May 10, with results set to be announced on May 13. The Congress is striving to dislodge the BJP from power in the southern state, and the selection of star campaigners reflects the party’s strategy to garner support from various regions and sections of the electorate. The inclusion of Shettar, who recently switched sides, and the exclusion of Pilot, who has been at odds with the party leadership, has also generated considerable interest and speculation, making the upcoming elections in Karnataka closely watched by political observers.