Chief Minister Siddaramaiah accused the BJP of resorting to divisive communal tactics solely to gain favor with voters for political gain, emphasizing that the Congress prioritizes developmental initiatives to earn electoral support.
Speaking at a campaign rally endorsing Congress candidate Priyanka Jarkiholi for the Chikkodi Lok Sabha seat in Ugar Khurd, Belgaum district, Siddaramaiah asserted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been offering false promises and delivering inferior speeches merely to appease voters. He accused Modi of focusing more on spreading communal animosity than on discussing developmental initiatives.
Siddaramaiah mentioned that Modi’s claims of Congress disrespecting Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and Kittur Rani Chennama were unfounded. He asserted that he initiated the celebrations of Rani Chennamma Jayanti and established the Sangolli Rayanna Memorial at Nandgad in Khanapur.
The Chief Minister remarked that the BJP consistently opposes reservations. He recalled that during the Congress government’s implementation of reservations in local body elections, the BJP vehemently objected. He further stated that the Congress has pledged 25 assurances if elected, including loan forgiveness for farmers, depositing Rs 1 lakh in the bank accounts of each woman, among others. Additionally, he guaranteed that the Basaveshwara Irrigation Scheme in Kagwad would be swiftly finalized.
Siddaramaiah additionally guaranteed the populace that the state administration would engage with Maharashtra to persuade them to release 2 tmcft of water into the River Krishna and address other outstanding matters. He asserted that BJP MP Annasaheb Jolle has not initiated any development projects during his time as a Lok Sabha member, nor has he raised any concerns related to Karnataka or the Chikkodi Lok Sabha constituency in Parliament thus far. Siddaramaiah urged citizens to cast their votes in favor of the Congress for the comprehensive progress of their constituency.
Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar issued a challenge to Modi, suggesting that if he possessed the capability, he should execute welfare programs and reservations for Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes in BJP-governed states, similar to those implemented by the Congress in Karnataka. He accused the Union Government of showing biased treatment by allocating insufficient funds for drought relief efforts in Karnataka recently. Shivakumar alleged that during the Covid pandemic, when BJP MP Suresh Angadi passed away in Delhi, the Centre exhibited minimal interest in organizing a special flight to repatriate Angadi’s remains to his native place.
