BENGALURU: The state unit of the BJP has decided to launch a massive campaign from Wednesday to corner the Siddaramaiah government as part of its efforts to rid Karnataka of Congress rule.
Party national president Amit Shah, who chaired a meeting of the BJP core committee here on Saturday, discussed the strategies to be adopted to attack the state government and whip up a wave against it by organising mass campaigns highlighting the government’s failure on several fronts.
The meeting identified Siddaramaiah government’s failed promise of reducing bus fares, withdrawal of Karnataka Prevention of Cow Slaughter and Protection Bill and efforts to take control of Hindu religious mutts as the three major issues to put the state government on the mat.
The party also decided to start door-to-door campaigns and public protest rallies from January 7 to 20 across the state highlighting these issues.
Shah has set them a target of reaching at least 25 lakh homes during this campaign to turn the heat on the Siddaramaiah government.
“The Congress government in Karnataka is non-performing, corrupt, defunct proving to be an abysmal failure in matters of governance and law and order. Economy too has suffered a setback under the Congress rule,” Shah said.
Membership Drive
Shah has instructed the state party leaders, MPs and MLAs to fully devote their time for the ongoing membership drive for the next three months to achieve the target of enrolling 1 crore members in the party.
He is said to have warned of initiating action against those party workers who fail to achieve the target.
The membership drive will be intensified over the next three weeks with January 10-11 and January 24-25 weekends to be observed as ‘Maha Abhiyan Day’ for enrolment. He has set a target of 10 lakh enrolments on January 10-11 and wants the state unit to create a record by enrolling 25 lakh members on the January 24-25 weekend.
BJP state president and MP Prahlad Joshi said that rallies will be organised in all the 276 mandals in the state between January 12 and 20 as part of the enrolment drive and also agitation against the Siddaramaiah government’s “misrule”.
Shah said the party leaders should concentrate on issues that have direct connect with the masses.
On Arkavathy Row
Replying to a question at a press meet about party’s future course of action on the alleged illegal denotification of land in Arkavathy Layout by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Shah said that the law would take its own course as the party has decided to launch a legal battle against Siddaramaiah in this connection.
Apart from the Arkavathy denotification issue, allegations against several ministers in the Siddaramaiah cabinet also came up for discussion during the meeting with Shah, party sources said. The strategies to be followed to corner the government over the issue of corruption will be finalised after holding consultations with legal experts, sources said.
Replying to a question about the party’s “Congress-Free India” campaign and his take on regional parties, Shah said, “It means removing Congress from power all over the country, not removing Congress from the country. As far as the regional parties are concerned, they will have a role as long as people want them.”
Siddu, KPCC Chief Slam BJP
Hassan/Chikballapur: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and KPCC president G Parameshwara slammed BJP national president Amit Shah for ridiculing the state government. Speaking at Chikballapur, Parameshwara said, “Congress is still strong in the state....BJP should not forget that it lost the confidence of voters only because of corruption.” Speaking to reporters at Hassan, Siddaramaiah said, “Congress is not afraid of statements made by BJP leaders.”