The Bharatiya Janata Party virtually kicked off its election campaign in the state with party promising free power and loan at four per cent interest  to farmers, if it was voted to power. 

Inaugurating a farmers’ convention on Thursday, Bharatiya Janata Party national President Rajnath Singh said the party was committed to help farmers.

He wanted the people of the State to vote the party  to power like in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh. 
He also promised Rs 1,000 per quintal as support price for paddy.

He alleged that the JD(S) has betrayed the people by not sticking to the promise on power sharing.

Former Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa assured the people that they would give 24 hours free electricity to irrigation pumpsets.  All pending irrigation projects would be taken up on a priority basis, he added.

Discontentment
The party’s image at the meeting took a beating as prominent leaders like Ananth Kumar, Jagadish Shettar and K S Eshwarappa stayed away.

It was clear that the dissidence is still brewing in the party. Earlier speaking to reporters in Bellary,  Rajnath Singh said that the State leaders would take a decision on taking former deputy chief minister M P Prakash into the party. They would be in a better position to decide on steps to strengthen the party.

Asked about the chief ministerial candidate, he said: “People know who is the popular leader and there is no difference of opinion on the leadership.”

Sadananda Gouda, H G Sriramulu, Janardhan Reddy, Katta Subramanya Naidu, G T Devegouda,   were present with others.