National News
Hosapete gears up to welcome Rahul Gandhi
Preparations are being made in full swing to welcome Congress president Rahul Ganhi, who will be launching the poll campaign for Karnataka Legislative Assembly elections, from Hosapete in Ballari district on Saturday.
Mr. Gandhi is visiting the State for the first time since he become the party president in December last year. Mr. Gandhi’s mother and former president Sonia Gandhi fought her maiden election from this constituency 19 years ago. She had defeated BJP leader Sushma Swaraj during 1999 General Elections.
Mr Gandhi is expected to land in around 12.30 pm in Vidyanagar Airport. He will take an helicopter to Hosapete to address the public meeting.
Already, a large number of partyworkers and people across the Ballari district have started arriving at the venue.
Rahul Gandhi’s campaign vehicle
Mr. Gandhi’s poll campaign is named as “Janaashirwad Yatra”. A specially designed bus, which he during the Gujarat election campaign, arrived here from Bengaluru on Friday evening amidst police security.
The vehicle would be used by Mr. Gandhi to address the public at street corners, and hold meetings with Congress leaders during the four-day tour of Hyderabad-Karnataka districts from Saturday.
People arriving in tractors to attend Rahul Gandhi’s public meeting in Hosapete.
The State Congress is making all out efforts to ensure the rally a huge success. Anand Singh, BJP MLA from the Vijayanagara Constituency here, would be officially joining the Congress in the presence of Mr. Gandhi. Mr. Singh has even tendered resignation to the membership of the Assembly.
After the public meeting, Mr Gandhi and top Congress leaders from Karnataka would visit Huligemmma temple nearby before entering to neighbouring Koppal district.
In Koppal, Mr Gandhi would pay a visit to Gavi Siddeshwara Mutt, belonging to the dominant Lingayat community.
