The two-day meeting of the State executive committee of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), scheduled to begin on January 21 in Kalaburagi, is set to make preliminary preparations, both organisationally and politically, for the next Assembly polls in the State.
Addressing media conference at the party office here on Wednesday, party’s State general secretary and parliamentarian Shobha Karandlaje said that the meet would focus on three issues – strengthening the party base at the grassroots level; exposing the State government for its “failure” in addressing drought and flood issues and in maintaining law and order; and demonetisation.
“The executive would chalk out a special drive for strengthening the party at grassroots level. The main focus would be on forming and consolidating structures at the booth level. The booth-level committees would consist of 12 members representing different communities and women. The higher committees have already been formed at various places,” she said. The booth-level structures would enrol new voters.
‘Government’s failure’
Speaking at length on the second agenda, Ms. Karandlaje said that the executive meet would resolve to launch a campaign against the State government which, she said, had failed to handle natural calamities and maintain law and order.
“The State government had completely failed to address the issues of drought and floods. It has even failed to submit Utilisation Certificate for the relief amount of Rs. 1,782 crore that the Union government had released last year. It doesn’t have proper plans to spend Rs. 1,520 crore that the Centre released recently as per NDRF norms,” she said.
Asked about the Union government releasing lesser amount than demanded by the State government as per NDRF norms to take up drought and flood relief works, Ms. Karandlaje said that she would mobilise all 17 Lok Sabha members of her party under the leadership of B.S. Yeddyurappa to demand the remaining funds provided the State government first spent the money provided and submitted the Utilisation Certificate.
To a question on BJP leader K.S Eshwarappa’s recent remarks on the Sangolli Rayanna Brigade, she said that party’s national leaders would look into the matter. “State executive committee won’t discuss about the Rayanna Brigade and Mr. Eshwarappa’s association with it. I think the Brigade activities will no way influence the party’s electoral prospects,” she said.
Party leaders Amarnath Patil, Revunaik Belamagi, B.G. Patil, Baburao Chauhan, Shashil Namoshi and others were present.
