BJP, Cong make development a poll plank

While the national parties - the BJP and the Congress - go before the people, seeking support in the coming Assembly election on the back of development works taken up by the NDA government at the Centre and the state government respectively, the JD(S) is banking on the shortcomings of the ruling dispensation.

In an interaction with media persons, leaders of the political parties, including Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI), here, spelt out the strategies of their parties to win the elections.

Congress city president R Murthy, BJP leader B P Manjunath, JD(S) city president K T Cheluvegowda and SDPI candidate from NR Assembly segment Abdul Majeed took part in the interaction. Four Assembly segments Narasimharaja, Krishnaraja, Chamaraja and parts of Chamundeshwari - fall under Mysuru city.

Murthy said, the people of Mysuru know about the contributions of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's government for the development of the city. "The Congress government has made remarkable contributions for the development of the city. We will go before the people, highlighting our works," he said.

Manjunath said, the people have rejected the Congress at the Centre and in many states and the 133-year-old party will meet the same fate in Karnataka too, this time.

"People are aware of the failures of the state government, led by Siddaramaiah. The government has failed to protect senior officers like Rashmi Mahesh and C Shikha, who are subjected to harassment by a section of the elected representatives and the officials. The Congress came to power in 2013 due to the infighting within the BJP. This time, people will support the BJP," he said.

K T Cheluvegowda said, the JD(S) will encash on the lapses of the national parties. "Both the national parties have indulged in divisive politics. They polarise votes on caste and communal basis. While the Congress is trying to divide the Veerashaiva-Lingayat community, the BJP is known for its anti-Muslim and anti-Dalit stance," he alleged.

Questioning Siddaramaiah's contribution to Mysuru, Cheluvegowda said, though Devaraja Market and Lansdowne building collapsed, the government failed to rebuild them.

Majeed of SDPI said, Tanveer Sait has been representing the NR Assembly segment from the last 17 years, but, he has neglected the constituency, which has a population of 3.10 lakh people.

"Out of them, 80,000 are labourers and are deprived of basic facilities. Sait has failed to ensure the welfare of the people. He is a leader with no vision. However, the SDPI will support Siddaramaiah in Chamundeshwari segment," he said.

Tipu Jayanti

When reporters asked Manjunath about the BJP's stand on Tipu Jayanti celebration, he said, "I will celebrate Tipu Jayanti along with other Jayanti."

To a query on Union Minister for Skill Development Anantkumar Hegde's statement on changing the Constitution, Manjunath said, "It's his (Hegde's) personal view and he did not say changing the Constitution. All he said was amending a few portions of the Constitution.