Mangaluru: The Dakshina Kannada District Congress Committee has launched the second phase of the Sanghatan Srujan Abhiyan, setting in motion a district-wide exercise to strengthen the party organisation from the block level to the grassroots.

The programme was discussed at a meeting held at the Congress Bhavan in Mallikatte on Saturday, attended by KPCC-appointed observers, district office-bearers and senior party leaders. The organisational exercise comes after the completion of the first phase, during which Padmaraj R Poojary was appointed president of the Dakshina Kannada District Congress Committee.

The second phase is aimed at identifying committed leaders, strengthening the party’s organisational structure and preparing the cadre for future electoral challenges.

Observers to visit all 17 blocks

Dr Anshuman, who is leading the team of observers in Dakshina Kannada, said the second phase was being conducted in accordance with the directions of the All India Congress Committee (AICC) and Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC).

The observers will visit all 17 Block Congress units spread across the eight Assembly constituencies in Dakshina Kannada. During the exercise, they will hold consultations with existing block presidents, district and state-level office-bearers, former elected representatives and leaders of various frontal organisations.

According to Dr Anshuman, the consultations are intended to gather feedback from party workers and identify leaders capable of taking up organisational responsibilities at different levels.

“The objective is to identify committed leaders at the grassroots and strengthen the organisation through a transparent process,” Dr Anshuman said.

The exercise will also provide an opportunity for party workers and leaders to express their willingness to take up organisational positions.

Three to five names to be recommended

As part of the organisational restructuring, interested party workers can submit applications for various positions. The observers will then recommend panels containing three to five names for each post.

The Congress has instructed the organisational exercise to ensure adequate representation for women and adhere to the principle of social justice while selecting office-bearers.

The observers have been given a deadline of October 30 to complete consultations across all 17 blocks and submit their recommendations to the KPCC.

The party is also expected to subsequently focus on strengthening its organisational machinery at the panchayat and booth levels. The grassroots-level structure is expected to play a key role in mobilising workers and voters during upcoming elections.

Block-level meetings scheduled

As part of the organisational exercise, a series of meetings has been scheduled in parts of Dakshina Kannada on October 8 and 9.

On October 8, meetings will be held at Kadaba at 10.30 am and Sullia at 2.30 pm. On October 9, consultations are scheduled at Puttur at 9.30 am, Vitla at 12.15 pm and Uppinangady at 3.30 pm.

The meetings will provide the observers an opportunity to interact directly with local leaders and party workers and assess the organisational requirements of each area.

The Congress leadership has indicated that the exercise will not be limited to appointments at the block level but will eventually extend to panchayat and booth-level structures.

Focus on Mangaluru civic elections

Preparations for the upcoming Mangaluru City Corporation elections were also discussed during Saturday’s meeting.

DCC president Padmaraj R Poojary said corporators and former candidates had been brought together to discuss ways to strengthen the party’s organisation and accelerate preparations for the civic polls.

The party intends to use the organisational exercise to improve coordination between its elected representatives, former candidates, block units and grassroots workers.

Poojary also said the party had discussed the need to secure additional government grants for development works in areas covered under the Congress manifesto.

Particular attention, he said, would be given to issues affecting Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe communities. The party plans to pursue these matters with the state government and the district in-charge minister.

Congress raises DC Manna land issues

Poojary also referred to issues concerning DC Manna lands affecting SC, ST and backward communities.

He said the party had raised the matter with the government and that the district in-charge minister had assured that appropriate steps would be taken.

The Congress is expected to continue pursuing the issue as part of its broader focus on development and social justice in the district.

The meeting also passed resolutions congratulating the state government on holding a Cabinet meeting in Mangaluru and welcoming announcements related to coastal development.

The district Congress also welcomed the state government’s decision concerning recognition of Tulu, according to Poojary.

Congress raises Form 7 allegations

The meeting also witnessed Congress leaders raising concerns over the alleged misuse of Form 7 during the ongoing revision of electoral rolls.

KPCC spokesperson U T Farzana alleged that Form 7 applications had been misused in Beltangady to seek deletion of voters’ names from electoral rolls.

She claimed that applications involving 45 names had been submitted in certain booths and alleged that minority voters were among those targeted.

Farzana demanded criminal action against anyone found to have submitted false applications. She said the Congress would oppose attempts to remove genuine voters from the electoral rolls.

Form 7 is used to raise objections to names included in electoral rolls, including requests for deletion where applicable. Allegations regarding its misuse have become part of the wider political debate surrounding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Karnataka.

Congress leaders said protecting the voting rights of every eligible citizen was essential and called for action against anyone found guilty of providing false information.

Organisation building ahead of future elections

The Sanghatan Srujan Abhiyan is expected to give the Congress an opportunity to assess the strength of its organisational network across Dakshina Kannada and identify new leadership at different levels.

With consultations planned across all 17 blocks, the observers will gather feedback from existing office-bearers and grassroots workers before submitting their recommendations to the KPCC.

The exercise assumes significance as the party prepares for the Mangaluru City Corporation elections and other future electoral challenges. Strengthening the booth and panchayat-level network could be particularly important for improving voter outreach and coordination.

The meeting was attended by DCC vice-president Subhodaya Alva, KPCC spokesperson U T Farzana, Women’s Congress president Arpitha and Youth Congress president Nawaz. Leaders including T K Sudhir, Bharatheesh and Yogeesh, besides other district office-bearers and party workers, also participated.

The Congress leadership said the organisational exercise would continue across the district, with the recommendations expected to form the basis for strengthening the party structure in Dakshina Kannada.