Beware of Modi largesse', says HD Deve Gowda

Bengaluru: Cautioning his party workers that the Union government could roll out more populist measures in the next budget to garner votes, JD (S) patriarch H D Deve Gowda said Prime Minister Narendra Modi could even deposit Rs 25000 in bank accounts of BPL card holders with an eye on next year's Assembly elections.

Addressing a massive rally of party workers here on Friday, Mr Gowda asked his partymen to be prepared for elections scheduled for 2018, when the BJP's vote bank politics could high a new high.

“Don't underestimate Mr Modi. He may deposit Rs 25000 each in accounts of all BPL card holders. I can understand his mind. You people should understand it and work hard to bring our party to power,'' he added.

Mr Gowda said he wished to inaugurate the party office next month in the presence of over two lakh party workers. He urged all leaders to get at least two to three thousand people from each constituency. “Besides, the Union Government has restricted political donation to Rs two thousand only. So, the leaders should raise donations from at least two to three thousand people in each constituency for our party,'' he added.

Thanking teachers for ensuring the victory of party candidate Mr Ramesh Babu in polls to the Legislative Council, Mr Gowda said even educated people were voting for JD(S).

Since there was a good future for the party in next year's election, where party has decided to fight on its own, the workers of JD(S) had a big role to play, he added.

Mr Gowda said he would involve himself in the party building exercise till next year's Assembly elections and would organise a backward classes rally in Chitradurga, followed by  a rally of women party workers in order to strengthen the party.