With the critical State Elections taking place in Karnataka on May 12th, 2018, the INOC, USA team has arrived in Bengaluru this weekend to provide moral support and aid to family members and friends of Non-resident aliens to help them participate in the upcoming state elections, where the ruling party (BJP) and the Congress Party are hotly in contest. The Congress party wants to strike a decisive victory to herald the turning point for future successes for the Congress to wrest control in the Lok Sabha elections.
Mr. Mohinder Singh Gilzian led the U.S team consisting of Mr. Harbachan Sigh the Secretary-General and Dr. Dayan Naik, the Chapter head of the Karnataka Chapter of the Indian National Overseas Congress, USA.
Sam Pitroda, Chairman of the Indian Overseas Congress Department of the All India Congress Committee, at a prescheduled meeting set the perimeters and facilitated the inter group-discussions of various professionals and representatives from some other parts of the world to maintain the integrity of the elections and fuller participation of voters in the elections.
Following a special meeting on elections logistics held on April 30, 2018, by Mr. Sam Pitroda and Mr. Madhu Yaskhi of several NRI organizations and professionals that had converged in Bengaluru, Mr. Sam Pitroda held a Press Briefing at which the special interest of NRI Congress supporters was discussed. In these connections, the leading members of the US group recounted how they were out there to educate voters ready to vote in the state elections. This Press Briefing was attended by over 25 media representatives and a large group of journalists. The picture shows NY Group at the rostrum of the Press Briefing. Some NRIs who were from Karnataka described how they would encourage their family and friends to vote. Several others would educate on Congress’s past accomplishments, yet others said they would discuss general relevant issues of concern to the local communities. The elections fever was apparently on and excitement was building up.
At the Press Briefing, Mr. Sam Pitroda and Mr. Madhu Yashski stated that NRIs had come home to help or cast their own votes. To a question, Dr. Sam Pitroda made it absolutely clear that there was no money involved in any of the activities by any group and that their involvement was limited in scope.
The USA team participated in both these meetings where Mr. Mohinder Singh Gilzian, Mr. Harbachan Singh, and Dr. Dayan Naik spoke. On the days that followed,, the INOC, USA team, met several candidates who were running for elections at their respective places of operations. In particular, they saw Mr. H.A. Harris and Mr. Dinesh Gundo Rao, who was running to be their representative for the 5th time. They talked to people at campaigns, and they also had opportunities to visit rallies, parades, and campaign and encourage all registered voters to exercise their right to vote.
The US Team also visited offices of several State and Federal Congress Party Chiefs such as Mr. K.C. Venagopal, to witness the processes and get to discuss issues & politics of concern to themselves. The team is set to meet many others as they fly in from other states to aid in the process. Amongst others that they met were retired Party Whips.
The team noted the interactive media in action and saw some IT improvements that were being applied. The savvy voters and the parties involved seemed to be applying sophisticated IT apparatus to boost their respective capabilities.
The enthusiasm and campaign fever in the Congress party was evident and complete confidence was showing on all the faces of the candidates, leaders, advisers and above all in their national President Shri Rahul Gandhi.
