Yediyurappa predicts the BJP will win 130-140 seats in the 224-member Karnataka Assembly in the coming elections.
BJP leader and former Karnataka chief minister BS Yediyurappa at the state executive committee meeting in Bengaluru. (Twitter)
Assembly elections in Karnataka are likely before April 10-12, said veteran BJP leader and former chief minister BS Yediyurappa even as he exuded confidence that the party would come to power on its own in the state with an absolute majority, thanks to the achievements of the state and the Centre.
The BJP Parliamentary Board member and party strongman was speaking after inaugurating a special state executive meeting of the party in Bengaluru on Saturday, 4 February.
Insisting that there was no confusion in the BJP and that all were united, the Yediyurappa urged BJP cadres and leaders to take the programmes of the state and central governments door-to-door, with a special focus on gaining the support of women, youth and SC/STs.
He said, gone were the days of the Congress coming to power using money, muscle and communal politics.
“The Assembly polls are expected before April 10-12. No one can stop the BJP from forming a government with a clear majority by winning 130-140 seats in this election,” Yediyurappa said.
Hitting out at Congress leaders Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar for going around the state claiming to be the next chief ministers, he said, “I want to ask Congress leaders: Is Rahul Gandhi your leader? We (BJP) have a strong leader like Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is loved and respected globally.”
With the leadership of Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, there is no doubt that BJP will win all the upcoming elections, including in Karnataka, he contended.
Addressing party office bears, Yediyurappa said there cannot be a single house where the programmes of central and state government’s haven’t reached, and more people-friendly programmes and schemes are expected in the state budget on 17 February.
Exhorting party cadres to prepare for the polls with a confidence that nothing can stop BJP from coming to power in Karnataka, he said, “Focus on SC/ST or backward classes mohalla, understand the issues and make honest efforts to resolve them, and inform people about programmes of our government; if you do that, we will be able to win at least 130-140 seats.”
BJP national general secretary in-charge of Karnataka Arun Singh, state president Nalin Kumar Kateel, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi, former chief ministers Sadananda Gowda and Jagadish Shettar were among those present at the event.
Attacking the Congress, he said: “Congress bus yatra will get punctured, as amid differences, another senior Congress leader G Parameshwara has expressed displeasure.”
The Congress’ days of coming to power using the means of power, money, muscle, liquor, and by sowing the seeds of communal or caste hatred has ended, he stressed.
In his address, Arun Singh said he has traversed the state, met people, gathered information, and his assessment was that the BJP would again form the government in Karnataka.
Asserting that the BJP will achieve the target of winning 150 seats, he said, “We have strong cadre base, our social service, also state and national service programmes that the BJP is doing, no others are doing.”
Highlighting the strength of the BJP’s organisation, he said the party has strong national and state leadership, unlike in the Congress or the JD(S).
He also accused the grand old party, especially Siddaramaiah, of indulging in “appeasement politics” and “insulting Hindus”.
Union Minister Pralhad Joshi, calling the Congress “experts” in lying, chided the party for its poll promises, and claimed that it has not fulfilled loan waiver to farmers in Rajasthan, despite years in power.
Criticising dynasty politics of the JD(S) and alleged infighting in the first family of that party for tickets, he said, they are taking out “Pancharantna Yatre”, but instead they should have undertaken ‘Navaratna Yatre’ as eight-nine family members of party patriarch HD Deve Gowda are in politics.
“All drama bazi, will they improve the state?” he asked.
Also targeting Congress’ “Praja Dwani Yatre”, Joshi said the party that removed several elected governments in the country and imposed emergency is today speaking of becoming the voice of the people.
BJP state chief Kateel, claiming that the double engine government is doing “good work” said projects worth crores are on or have been implemented in every Assembly segment.
The special executive was meeting to discuss the strategy in the days ahead leading to the polls, such as district meetings and tours, among others.
(Disclaimer: The headline, subheads, and intro of this report along with the photos may have been reworked by South First. The rest of the content is from a syndicated feed, and has been edited for style.)
May 09, 2024
May 09, 2024
May 09, 2024
May 08, 2024
May 08, 2024
May 08, 2024
