DAVANAGERE: Former chief minister BS Yediyurappa said Prime Minister Narendra Modi wave alone cannot win elections in Karnataka.
“Let us not be under any illusion that we can win all elections by using Modi’s name. It may be easy to win Lok Sabha elections but in the state, we cannot bank only on that. We must reach out to people with development work,” he said on Sunday.
At the state executive meeting here, he said the litmus test is to win the Hangal and Sindagi bypolls.
“We know what will be the message if we lose these elections. We shouldn’t think these will be easy wins. The opposition is strong and we should give due credit to them and their calculations,” he said, adding that the next two years are packed with elections.
“No doubt BJP will retain power at the Centre after the 2024 Lok Sabha polls under Modi’s leadership. However, one must strengthen the party to ensure success in all elections. We should take leaders of the SC, ST and other backward communities into confidence and form teams of youths and women at the booth level,” he added.
He said: “We’ve learnt that KPCC president DK Shivakumar has contacted two of our MLAs. I told workers to be cautious as Congress leaders are actively seeking power and warned them not to underestimate opponents.”
Later, chief minister Basavaraj Bommai praised Yediyurappa and credited the four-time CM for BJP coming to power for the second time in 10 years.
Will protect religious sentiments: Bommai
Chief minister Basavaraj Bommai said the government will protect religious sentiments of people. On the Nanjangud temple demolition, he said there are efforts to disturb law and order through misinformation campaigns on social media.
“We have successfully tackled them. We take such incidents very seriously and will initiate legal action,” he said.
Yediyurappa said the party cadre need not worry about the demolition as it’s an isolated incident and the government will ensure it’s not repeated.
Govt seeks three textile parks in Karnataka
The state has submitted a proposal to the Centre to create a minimum of three textile parks, said chief minister Basavaraj Bommai.
Laying the foundation stone for development works under Mahatma Gandhi Nagar Vikas Yojana on Sunday, Bommai said the government has launched works worth Rs 125 crore and will take up works at the cost of Rs 1,500 crore.
“The Centre is encouraging textile and automobile industries. We’ve planned programmes under the Amrut Gram scheme and are sanctioning funds of Rs 25 lakh to each gram panchayat for development works,” he said.
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