Maintaining that the Bharatiya Janata Party had brought about significant infrastructure improvement in Bangalore, Deputy Chief Minister R. Ashok on Wednesday claimed the party would win around 20 seats in Bangalore in the Assembly elections as against its present tally of 18.
Participating in a meet-the-press programme organised by the Press Club of Bangalore and the Bangalore Reporters’ Guild here, Mr. Ashok said, “We are confident that people of the State will give us enough marks to ensure that we pass these examinations (polls) in first class so that we can retain power.”
He listed out a series of development schemes and welfare measures taken up by the government, especially in Bangalore, to prove the government had not compromised on development despite infighting.
The BJP has now expunged infighting and the leaders are putting up a united front, he said. On the other hand, the Congress is now grappling with rebellion, he said.
Ridiculing the Congress for not announcing its leader, he said, “We are going to war under the leadership of Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar. But the Congress is yet to know who its captain is.”
Mr. Ashok, however, avoided answering a query on how genuine was the party’s claim of keeping MLAs facing serious charges away when ticket had been given to their family members or close aides.
