Mangaluru: JDS state executive president B Chandrashekhar has said that a convention for harmony would be held in Mangaluru on January 6.

He told reporters here on Thursday that the convention would be held at Nehru Maidan and that a large number of people are expected to take part.

He added that the harmony on convention would be held in all districts and initiatives are being taken in this direction. The first phase is already over and in the second phase, the convention would be held in Mangaluru and Udupi.

The convention for harmony would be held in Udupi in February.He added that the party is all set to encounter stiff rivalry posed by the two national parties who are indulging in communal agenda for vote bank.

He added that former chief minister Kumaraswamy would visit all the taluks in the state and that ‘Karnatakakke Kumaranna’ would be their slogan.The 2018 polls would prove decisive for the state and the party would play a major role, he said.

Chandrashekhar added that pro-people programmes would be the main agenda and that the poll campaigns would aim at reaching people in all possible ways.

He alleged that two national parties are playing with religious sentiments for their selfish gains.

“They use religion to spread communal disharmony to lure the voters. The innocent people in coastal districts are being targeted. The public are misled and harmony in the society is ruined,” he said.

He alleged that both BJP and Congress are least bothered about the problems of farmers.

Chandrashekhar said that Indira canteens have become the hub of corruption and both national parties are not interested in solving Mahadayi and Mekedatu problems.