New Delhi: Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) has extended an open invitation to Congress president Sonia Gandhi and her children Priyanka and Rahul Gandhi to contest from the State in the ensuing Lok Sabha polls, KPCC president B Janardhana Poojary said in new Delhi today (Feb 2, 2004).

"We have given an open invitation (to contest) including from Bellary for party president and her two children. We are very strong. We are prepared," Poojary told reporters when asked whether Priyanka and Rahul Gandhi would contest from the State.

However, he said the State unit had received no indication from the party high command so far to this effect. Poojary claimed that the party would get at least 24 out of the 28 Lok Sabha seats in the State.

Hinting that Chief Minister S M Krishna would lead the party in the Assembly polls, Poojary recalled that the party high command had earlier asked Chief Ministers of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chattisgarh to steer the party in the recent Assembly polls.

Keeping that precedent in view, Krishna should lead the party, he said, but added that it was for the high command to take a decision.