Bengaluru, Nov 2 Karnataka BJP president B Y Vijayendra on Monday said the BJP and JD(S) would formulate a joint strategy to contest the upcoming by-election for Hiriyur Assembly segment, asserting that the recent Legislative Council poll results reflected growing public dissatisfaction with the Congress government in the state.
Addressing reporters after a state office-bearers’ meeting here, Vijayendra said BJP national general secretary and newly appointed Karnataka in-charge Harish Dwivedi had attended the meeting for the first time since assuming charge.
The meeting, which lasted around two-and-a-half hours, discussed the prevailing political situation in Karnataka, strengthening the party organisation and preparations for forthcoming elections, he said.
“The recent Legislative Council election results (for four seats which BJP and JD(S) swept) clearly reflected the growing dissatisfaction among people with the Congress government and the anti-incumbency sentiment in the state,” Vijayendra said.
“While public anger against the Congress government is increasing, we also discussed the need for the BJP to strengthen its organisation through constructive struggles by taking up people’s issues,” he added.
Emphasising the need to prepare for the upcoming Zilla Panchayat and Gram Panchayat elections, Vijayendra said the party must begin strengthening its grassroots organisation immediately.
“Assembly elections are also not very far away. We have several challenges ahead of us. To face them effectively and achieve success, our workers, office-bearers and leaders must work together,” he said, adding that Dwivedi had provided guidance in this regard.
Vijayendra said Dwivedi had also interacted with members of the state core committee.
Highlighting the new state in-charge’s political and organisational experience, he said Dwivedi had served two terms as a Member of Parliament, had worked with the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad and as president of the Uttar Pradesh BJP Yuva Morcha.
“He has assured us that he will devote more time to Karnataka to strengthen the party organisation. His experience and guidance will be a great asset to the state BJP,” Vijayendra said.
On the upcoming by-elections, Vijayendra said the polls could be announced at any time and that discussions had already taken place at an earlier core committee meeting.
He said the BJP’s senior leaders would hold discussions with JD(S) leader H.D. Kumaraswamy to arrive at a consensus on the candidate to be fielded.
“We will hold discussions with senior BJP leaders and H.D. Kumaraswamy and take a final decision on fielding a candidate acceptable to both parties,” he said.
Taking a dig at the Congress leadership, Vijayendra said Chief Minister DK Shivakumar had visited Delhi three times over the past two to three months.
“The recent Legislative Council election results themselves are evidence of the people’s dissatisfaction with the Congress government. Despite all its claims, the Congress has lost the confidence of the people,” he alleged.
“Let them continue with their political strategies. We will formulate an effective strategy to contest the by-election unitedly with the JD(S) and work towards victory. Our objective is not merely to defeat the Congress; our main goal is to win the people’s confidence and emerge victorious in the elections,” he said.
Vijayendra also announced that the BJP would launch its ‘Save Democracy, Eradicate Anarchy’ campaign across all districts of Karnataka.
He accused the Congress and Rahul Gandhi of repeatedly targeting the Election Commission and other constitutional institutions through what he described as misinformation campaigns.
He alleged that the Congress and its allies were pursuing political strategies aimed at destabilising the Union government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
“The campaign is intended to expose before the people the Congress’s attempts to systematically spread misinformation against a government that has come to power with the democratic mandate of the people,” he said.
Vijayendra said a major march would be organised in Kolar on Tuesday morning, with more than 10,000 youths expected to participate.
“Harish Dwivedi, I and several senior state leaders will take part in the march,” he said, adding that similar programmes would be organised in Chitradurga and other districts.
The campaign would include interactions with young people, public discussions and other programmes across the state.
“The objective is to make people aware of what we consider the Congress’s false propaganda and its stand against democratic institutions,” Vijayendra said.
He further alleged that Rahul Gandhi was pursuing such political strategies out of frustration over Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership and his own political ambitions.
The BJP would counter these attempts by creating democratic awareness among the public, he added.
Responding to demands that he apologise to Congress leaders over his certain recent remarks agaisnt that party, Vijayendra said he had made no statement that warranted an apology.
He reiterated his earlier claim that internal differences within the Congress would intensify following the Legislative Council election results and alleged that attempts could be made to bring in a third Chief Minister in Karnataka.
“I had said a few days ago that efforts would begin to bring in a third Chief Minister in the state. Developments taking place now appear to be pointing in that direction,” he said.
Vijayendra alleged that several closed-door meetings were taking place within the Congress and claimed that former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had visited Delhi to express his dissatisfaction with Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar.
“Overall, everything is not well within the ruling Congress party. There are indications that internal differences could surface at any time,” he said.
“It is unfortunate that the internal political conflict within the Congress is affecting the administration of the state,” Vijayendra added.
(PTI News)
