“The Bharatiya Janata Party will win the forthcoming Assembly elections in Karnataka with a thumping majority.”

Speaking on the sidelines of the State executive committee of the BJP minority morcha in Bangalore on Saturday, Mr Abdul Rasheed Ansari, national secretary, BJP Minority Morcha, said that people have lost faith in the Congress and the Janata Dal (S) and are looking at the BJP for a stable government.
“We have the people’s support, and this is our biggest strength,” he
stated.

Mr Ansari said that the Party has the support of the minorities as well.

“A lot of minorities have joined hands with us. The State minority morcha is doing a good job of clearing the misgivings that the minorities had towards the BJP, and forming a base for them in the State BJP unit. The morcha is active not only at the State level, they have also done a lot of work at the district level under the guidance of the State Party leadership. We are the only party to have given the same status to the minorities as enshrined in the Constitution. Unfortunately, the Congress and other political parties have tarnished the name of the party. They have also been successful to some extent,” said Mr Ansari.

On the issue of alliance with the Janata Dal (Secular), he said that one bitter experience is enough for the BJP to not consider any such alliance. “Moreover, they have lost the confidence and respect of the people,” he added.
Regarding a tie-up with the Bahujan Samaj Party, he said, “We are confident that we will come on our own strength but we are open to alliance with like-minded parties. We will have a common minimum programme with them, if needed,” he added.

Misinterpreted

When asked whether Assembly elections will be run on the issue of development or Hindutva, Mr Ansari said Hindutva is the philosophy of co-existence.

“Why should anyone have a problem with it? It has been wrongly interpreted by the Congress and other parties because of vested interest. The BJP has always been raising the issue of development but it is the Congress, which has created a lot of confusion and misunderstanding in people’s minds,” said Mr Ansari.

The resolution issued at the end of the State executive committee of minority morcha states that it should be responsible for ensuring the transformation, from ‘appeasement slogan’ to ‘achievement slogan.’ and faith in nationalism in all dimensions.