Congress leaders on Saturday dubbed the Modi government “anti-farmer and anti-poor” and took a pledge to defeat BJP-backed candidates in the ensuing elections to gram panchayats, which are held on non-party lines.
A ‘Sarvodaya Samavesha’ organised to mark the Siddaramaiah government’s two years in office at the Bapuji MBA College Grounds here by Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) virtually turned a platform to launch the party’s campaign for GP polls. An estimated one lakh people attended the convention. Elections to GP across the State will be held in two phases on May 29 and June 2.
Amidst heavy downpour, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah sought blessings of the people for the party and appealed to voters to exercise their franchise for candidates who are members of the Congress. “The BJP and communal forces will be wiped out in all coming elections in the State,” he said. Unlike BJP, the Congress firmly believed in decentralisation of power and reservation of seats for women and other backward classes. There were no scandals during the two-year rule of the Congress administration, Mr. Siddaramaiah claimed.
The Chief Minister listed out several achievements and said the government stood up to the expectations of the people and delivered “scandalous-free” administration. During the BJP regime, cases were filed against 13 Ministers. But there were no cases against Ministers in this government. The Opposition BJP and JD(S) make baseless allegations without documentary evidences, he said.
The Congress party would return to power after 2018 elections, the Chief Minister said.
Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge accused the Modi government of misleading the people on the black money issue.