Mangaluru: AICC general secretary K C Venugopal, who is in-charge of Karnataka, on Monday did a reality check on ‘Mane Manege Congress’, a door-to-door campaign launched by the state Congress unit.

After flagging off the campaign at Akashabhavan in the city, Venugopal was seen asking residents whether Congress leaders visited their houses earlier for the party campaign. A woman told Venugoopal that none of the Congress leaders visited her house. Hearing this, Venugopal expressed his displeasure over the functioning of Congress leaders in Dakshina Kannada district.

In fact, the KPCC had launched the programme to strengthen the party after Opposition BJP launched their ‘Vistarak’ programme in the state. Venugopal had instructed party leaders across the state to visit every household in their respective areas compulsorily. In Dakshina Kannada, Congress had commenced its first phase of campaign on September 23.

Venugopal also gave party leaders a lesson on how to be with the people. Though special breakfast was arranged for party leaders on the first floor of a house in Akashabhavan, Venugopal preferred to have it with party workers on the ground floor. Accompanied by AICC secretary P C Vishnunath, ministers B Ramanath Rai, and U T Khader, legislators Ivan D’Souza, B A Mohiuddin Bava, mayor Kavitha Sanil, district Congress committee president K Harish Kumar, Venugopal visited the houses at Kavoor, Akashabhavana, Deralakatte and Ullal. Earlier, Venugopal was made to change the jeep during the procession from Kavoor to Akashabhavan as the vehicle developed a technical snag.

Venugopal told reporters that the aim of the ‘Mane Manege Congress’ campaign is to create awareness on achievements of the state government among people. “Our main objective is to make people aware that the Congress government has implemented several pro-people schemes. The government has fulfilled all the promises made in its manifesto during 2013 assembly polls. We expect people in Dakshina Kannada to support Congress again in 2018 Assembly election. I have instructed that each party worker should participate in the door-to-door campaign,” Venugopal said.