Published Sep 04, 2026 | 9:08 PM ⚊ Updated Sep 04, 2026 | 9:08 PM
On Day 4, the padayatra covered around 22 km before concluding at Karatagi in Koppal district.
Synopsis: Vijayendra said rural areas of Kalyana Karnataka continue to face shortages of doctors and teachers, inadequate infrastructure and limited employment opportunities. He called for greater investment in local industries, agro-processing units, small enterprises, and skill-development centres to create jobs and reduce youth migration to Bengaluru and other cities.
BJP Karnataka President BY Vijayendra on Friday, 4 September, accused the Congress government of being “lost in the illusion of its five guarantees” while neglecting the basic needs of the poor, farmers and vulnerable sections of society.
Vijayendra made the remarks during the fourth day of the BJP’s Lingasugur-Ballari padayatra, which began with Gau Puja on the occasion of Krishnashtami and covered around 22 km before concluding at Karatagi in Koppal district.
“While the government focuses on publicity around the five guarantees, poor people, senior citizens and persons with disabilities are struggling to receive even basic social security benefits. Several beneficiaries have not received pensions for months,” Vijayendra alleged.
He demanded timely payment of old-age and disability pensions and accused the government of delaying schemes related to housing, drinking water, electricity and the Ganga Kalyana Scheme.
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Vijayendra said farmers continue to face rising input costs, labour shortages, irrigation problems and uncertainty over crop prices.
During the padayatra, he inaugurated a new paddy harvesting machine brought by a farmer and interacted with farmers on mechanisation and agricultural challenges.
“Support for farmers must go beyond announcements. Quality seeds, fertilisers, electricity, irrigation, crop insurance, affordable credit and remunerative prices must be ensured,” he said.
Near Sindhanur, Vijayendra interacted with APMC traders, who raised issues related to additional charges for transferring shops and sites, licensing, documentation, access to bank credit, and high-interest loans.
He also noted infrastructure deficiencies at the Devaraja Urs Vegetable Market, including drinking water, toilets, sanitation and parking facilities, and assured traders that he would raise their concerns in the Assembly.
Vijayendra said rural areas of Kalyana Karnataka continue to face shortages of doctors and teachers, inadequate infrastructure and limited employment opportunities.
He called for greater investment in local industries, agro-processing units, small enterprises, and skill-development centres to create jobs and reduce youth migration to Bengaluru and other cities.
“Ground realities cannot be understood by sitting in air-conditioned rooms in Bengaluru,” he said, targeting the Congress government.
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Vijayendra asserted that the BJP would return to power in Karnataka in 2028, promising greater priority to agriculture, irrigation, healthcare, education, employment and rural development.
“This padayatra is not merely a political programme. It is an effort to directly listen to farmers, workers, women, youth, traders and the poor and take their issues to the government,” he said.
MP Govind Karjol, former Minister B. Sriramulu, MLAs Mahesh Tenginakai, Krishnanayak and Halappa Achar, former MLAs Basavaraj Dadesugur and Rajugowda Shivanagowda Nayak, leaders Hemalatha Naik and Dr Basavaraj Kavatager, Koppal District BJP President Naveen Gulagannavar, among others, participated in the padayatra.
