AICC general secretary Prithviraj Chavan and KPCC president Mallikarjun Kharge gave divergent opinions on Wednesday on revamping of the state unit of Congress party. While Chavan said only new, election-related committees would be constituted in Karnataka, Kharge said restructuring of the KPCC would take place. He also added that the new unit is likely to be in place by the second week of March.

Chavan told reporters after a meeting with Karnataka party leaders: “we won’t go for reorganisation of KPCC. We will only appoint the election committee, campaign committee, co-ordination committee and media committee”.

However, Kharge struck a different note. “There are some office-bearers who want to contest elections. We have to take into consideration the effects of delimitation while reconstituting the PCC. There will of course be election-related committees”. The meeting was attended by Rajya Sabha deputy chairman Rahman Khan, Union ministers Oscar Fernandes, M V Rajasekharan and K H Muniyappa, state Congress leaders Siddaramaiah, Dharam Singh, R V Deshpande, D K Shiv Kumar, M R Seetharam, H M Revanna, K C Kondaiah and Ugrappa.

Kharge said Chavan will visit Bangalore on March 2 and added that he would also participate in Janandolana rallies.

Prime Minister would be visiting Bangalore in the last week of March which may also see Rahul Gandhi landing in the city.

On former minister M P Prakash joining the party, he said a date would soon be announced. He said C M Ibrahim may also join the party.  The PCC chief said the Congress leaders urged the Union ministers to meet Prime Minister and others and impress upon them to give priority, in the budget for Karnataka, to housing programme.

The other priorities  were setting up Rs 2,000 crore to implement schemes to remove regional imbalance, increase in distribution of Rs 3 kg rice from 12 kg to 20 kg per ration card holder, special package to farmers in all districts, more remuneration for sugar cane growers among others.