The former Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa has claimed that the Bharatiya Janata Party will improve its tally in the Lok Sabha election in Karnataka because of his re-entry.
“Prior to my re-entry to the party, pre-poll surveys conducted by some television news channels had predicted that the BJP might win four seats in Karnataka. The political scenario has changed since then. The recent electoral projection by NDTV-Hansa Research survey has said that the party would win more than 20 seats here,” he said at an interaction programme here on Friday.
“We are highlighting the leadership qualities of our prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi as well as the development works initiated in Karnataka during my tenure as Chief Minister,” he said.
During the 2009 Lok Sabha election, the BJP won 19 seats in Karnataka and secured 43 per cent of the total votes polled. He expressed confidence that this time around, the party would win more than 20 seats and a vote share of more than 50 per cent.
“The youths who are disappointed with the misrule of Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government at the Centre are voluntarily campaigning for Mr. Modi,” Mr. Yeddyurappa claimed.
Criticising the style of functioning of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, he said that the Congress government had failed to provide funds for development works. Union Minister for Railways M. Mallikarjun Kharge had also expressed his displeasure against the failure by the State government to provide funds for the completion of ongoing railway projects, he said.
Mr. Yeddyurappa said the Union government should present a separate budget for agriculture.
“The State government is providing interest-free loans up to Rs. 3 lakh for farmers through cooperative societies. The Union government should emulate this scheme through nationalised banks. I discussed these issues with Mr. Modi during his visit to Davangere recently. He has promised to consider them if he becomes the Primes Minister,” he said.
Asked about his statements on the need for regional parties during the Assembly elections, Mr. Yeddyurappa said the people here did not support regional parties and the support that the Karnataka Janata Paksha got was not on expected lines.
Good words for Gowda
Mr. Yeddyurappa wished success for Janata Dal (Secular) national president H.D. Deve Gowda who is contesting the election from the Hassan constituency.
“The Lok Sabha needs Mr. Gowda’s vast political experience,” he said.
B.Y. Raghavendra, MP, and R.K. Siddaramanna, MLC, were present.
