JOIN USBJP to seek votes on its progress card
Armed with the “successful implementation of development works”, the State BJP is hopeful of turning the leadership issue in the Congress party to its advantage.
Addressing party workers after launching the Vijaya Sankalpa Yatre, the campaign for the Assembly polls on May 5, at the ground opposite Maharaja’s College in the city on Friday, Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar announced that the party would cash in on the government’s progress card, while laying emphasis on the various development works, initiated during its five year term.
Most cities including Mysore had undergone dramatic changes marking progress, Shettar claimed.
Taking a dig at the Congress party, he said that the future of the party that lacked a leader, was grim.
Making an oblique reference to his predecessor and Karnataka Janata Party (KJP) president B S Yeddyurappa, he said that many efforts had been made by a few leaders to destabilise the government. “They continued with their efforts even after quitting the party, but nothing could stop me from presenting the budget,” he said. He exuded confidence that the party would retain power by gaining absolute majority.
Deputy Chief Minister K S Eshwarappa made a mockery of the leadership tussle in the Congress, saying that the party had failed to take a call on the leadership issue as it feared dissidence and desertion by many of its leaders.
Attacking Congress for fostering casteism, Eshwarappa said that when Dharwad MP Prahlad Joshi was anointed State BJP chief, the Congress had said it was a tactic to woo brahmins. Eshwarappa clarified that Joshi was elevated to the current position for being a loyal worker of the party.
Bangalore South MP and BJP National General Secretary H N Ananth Kumar likened the upcoming Assembly elections to a 20:20 cricket match. While the BJP team was complete with a captain, the Congress deemed fit to announce its captain only after the completion of the match. He dared opposition leader Siddaramaiah to stop BJP ‘Ashwa’ (Horse).
On his arrival at Hotel Lalita Mahal Palace helipad, along with Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar, Prahlad Joshi told the media that it would be a triangular fight between the BJP-Congress-JD(S) during the Assembly polls.
He also said that the regional parties including the KJP stood little chance in denting the prospects of the three parties.