K'taka poised to become southern gateway for BJP: Amit Shah
As for the Congress party, he claimed it was using the Karnataka government as its “ATM.â€
Mysuru: While admitting that the BJP’s strategies for north India would not work in Karnataka as the dynamics were different in each state, BJP national president, Amit Shah claimed here on Saturday that the state would become “a big corridor for the party in the south during the Lok Sabha elections of 2019.”
“I will go on another tour of the state after two days and with that I will have completed touring it. Going by the response, it is very clear that people have already decided to vote for the BJP and remove the Congress government as they have confidence in Prime Minister, Narendra Modi,” he asserted.
Mr Shah, who was speaking to reporters here, observed that although there was a triangular fight in some places it was mainly a straight fight between the Congress and BJP in others. “We may not have won any seats in Mysuru in the last poll, but this time the BJP will give a good show here too. We do not need any support, we will come to power with a full majority of our own,” he declared.
Asked if the party planned to use the Hindutva card or the development plank these elections, he said, “Even (Congress president), Rahul Gandhi has started visiting temples. We are keeping to the agenda of development.”
As for the Congress party, he claimed it was using the Karnataka government as its “ATM.” “The main reason why people are upset with the Siddaramaiah government is corruption. The relation between Congress and corruption is inseparable like fish and water. Even by some chance if it comes to power again there will be a tsunami of corruption. All the developmental parameters in the state have declined. Despite earning good revenue being the IT hub, development has failed to percolate to the villages. While all BJP- led state governments have ensured 24 hour power supply in villages, the Karnataka government has failed to do so. And all Central schemes are weakly implemented. It has become a speed-breaker for Mr Modi’s mission of development,” he charged.
On his visit to members of the Mysuru royal family, he said it was merely a courtesy call.
More Congmen heading to BJP?
Now that Congress MLA , Malikayya Guttedar is all set to join the BJP, it’s believed a few more legislators and even Ministers could follow him into the saffron party should it succeed in persuading them.
BJP sources say the party has reached out to Housing Minister, M. Krishnappa and his son and Govindarajanagara MLA, Priyakrishna, as well as Fisheries Minister, Pramodh Madhvaraj, hoping they will boost its chances in the coming assembly poll. Counting on every win to help it reach its targeted 150 seats in the state assembly, the BJP is reportedly doing its best to corner as many “winnable” candidates as it can.
Should Mr Krishnappa and his son - who currently deny they are joining the BJP – give in and turn saffron, it would mean plus two seats for the party from Vijayanagara and Govindarajanagara constituencies, note sources. It has reportedly given senior leader, R.Ashok the task of negotiating with the two and Union Minister, Ananthkumar too is said to be on the job as the duo represent constituencies in his Bengaluru South Parliamentary segment.