Cong-JD(S) Rally: How Party Workers View the Coalition’s Chances

We spoke to people at the Congress-JD(S) rally to understand what party workers think of the coalition’s chances.

Congress and JD(S) held their first joint rally in Bengaluru on 31 March.

(Photo: The Quint)

Scores of Congress-JD(S) workers were only able to see Congress President Rahul Gandhi and JD(S) supremo Deve Gowda share the stage at their joint mega rally, after hours of waiting in the scorching heat without a semblance of shade.

Labelled Parivartana Samavesha, the rally was the first joint one by the coalition partners since they formed the government last year. With less than 2 weeks to polls, the alliance partners are eager to put on a show of strength, especially with whispers of dissent in the air due to unsatisfactory ticket allocation.

The decision not to field Sumalatha from Mandya, Deve Gowda’s decision to contest from Tumakuru forced the sitting MP to withdraw his nomination – these have not gone down well with some sections of the grassroots level workers from both parties. The ruling Congress-JD(S) alliance in the state is all set to launch its campaign ahead of the Lok Sabha polls in April-May.

Indian Govt Can’t Afford Rs 15 Lakh in all Accounts; it can Afford NYAY

“All Congress workers have to work for and support the JD(S) candidates. And I also request JD(S) party workers to support Congress candidates. The goal of both parties is to defeat Narendra Modi and BJP. PM promising Rs 15 lakh in accounts was a lie. The Indian govt can’t afford to do this but 20% of the poor, can get Rs 72,000 per year. This is our surgical strike on poverty.”

Rahul Gandhi

Party workers and the public gathered at the Bengaluru International Exhibition Centre grounds

There were almost 1 lakh party workers from surrounding districts like Ramanagara, Tumakuru and Bengaluru Rural in attendance, bearing flags and scarves, chanting ‘Rahul, Rahul!’.

Here are some of the people The Quint spoke to:

‘Making the Tumakuru MP Withdraw his Nomination was a Disaster’

Mazhar Pasha, Congress worker from Tumakuru

“I have been waiting since 10 am to see Rahul. The coalition government is good, they will definitely win. But sometimes the Congress ignores its MPs. The Tumakuru MP had to withdraw his nomination just to field Deve Gowda, they should not have done this. That is the biggest disaster. They should not allow MPs to be ignored like this. He was a hard worker. He should not have been sidelined.”

Mazhar Pasha

‘We Will Vote for Whoever CM Supports’

Komala K, JD(S) party worker from Bengaluru

“It is good that it’s a coalition government, that Congress and JD(S) has come together. They are a good match and have worked well. I have come mainly in support of Kumar Anna (Kumaraswamy). Now everyone will win. Congress is a good ally here.”

Komala K

‘Sumalatha has not Done Anything, Was Banking on Husband’s Legacy in Mandya’

Devaraj S, Congress worker from Chikkabidarakallu, near Bengaluru

“Forget Mandya, Nikhil will win with a margin of 4 lakhs. Sumalatha was banking on the respect people had for Ambareesh’s. She had done nothing for people. Overall our chances are good, this time BJP won’t cross 250 seats at the Centre. Nobody here will vote for them.”

Devaraj S

‘Modi is Deceiving the People; the Coalition Will Win’

Muthuraj, a Congress worker from Pavagada, near Tumakuru

“Modi is deceiving the people with GST and demonetisation and all his schemes. I am a senior Congress worker. Under the guidance of Siddaramaiah, we marched in protest from Bengaluru to Ballari. I am dressed like Gandhi because he was the president of the Congress at the Belagavi session in 1924, which many people don’t know.”

Muthuraj