CM dares opposition ahead of local polls

Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa challenged the Congress and Janata Dal (S) to place before the voters the allegations against him and his government during elections to zilla panchayat and taluk panchayats and he would place the achievements of his government. “Let the people decide who is right and who is wrong. People’s verdict is ultimate in a democracy,” he asserted.

Launching the BJP’s campaign for the ZP/TP elections at Garag village in Dharwad district, here he accused both the opposition parties of being intolerant of the development works taking place during the BJP regime in the last two and half years.

The CM said he would soon convene a session of legislature and the Opposition parties should discuss the “alleged” land scams on the floor of the House. “Instead of going to appropriate forum, the Opposition is making baseless charges in front of the media to gain cheap publicity,” he charged.Stating that the results of ZP/TP elections will be completely in favour of the BJP, the CM said the BJP rule in the local bodies would help intensify development. He said, the government was committed to providing power 24x7 to all places in the state and as of now it was purchasing 1,000 Mwof power every day. This uninterrupted power supply will continue even during the summer, he asserted and added that the government was committed to making Karnataka self sufficient in electricity supply.

An emotional Yeddyurappa said, he would never bet-ray the farmers in the state and promised to help them to the maximum extent possible through its various schemes. He said, the Congress and JD(S) were engaged in mud-slinging against the BJP by hurling “baseless allegations” unable to digest the BJP’s popularity among the rural and urban masses through its development activities. He claimed that the move to ban export of iron ore from the state, global investors’ meet, Bhagyalaxmi scheme and other projects had won accolades even from the Centre.

He announced that the government would provide free education to the beneficiaries of Bhagyalaxmi sche-me till the girl child became a graduate.

Describing the Congress as a sinking ship, Yeddyurappa said former chief minister Bangarappa had quit the sinking ship to join the BJP. “Bangarappa has announced that he would guide the youngsters along with JD(S) leader Deve Gowda. His first message through his action to youngsters is that Congress is a sinking ship and hence not worth Joining it,” he said.

The CM said there was a need to strengthen the panchayat raj system to ensure that the objective of decentralisation is truly fulfilled. There is need to eradicate the menace of middlemen in the panchayat raj system. Awareness among the people in general and elected representatives in particular is essential to curb the middlemen. “Gram Sabhas should be meaningful to achieve this objective” he remarked.

Rural Development and Panchayat Raj minister Jagadeesh Shettar, MP Prahlad Joshi, MLAs Seema Masuti, Chandrakant Bellad and others were present.

Several prominent leaders from Congress and Janata Dal(S) in Dharwad and Kalghatagi taluk announced that they would join BJP in the presence of the CM.