Coastal Karnataka needs able leadership now
The JD(S) and Congress coalition government has come into existence. H D Kumaraswamy, a very down to earth person and an excellent politician has taken oath to the office of CM. During his last term as Chief Minister, Kumaraswamy had introduced the concept of ‘village stay’ and had tried his best to eliminate the distance between the common person and the rulers. Though it was criticized by some, Kumaraswamy became a familiar face in rural Karnataka. It was too early in 2008, and he didn’t have the experience to build on that and manage his image thereafter. The coalition with BJP had complicated the matters for him. Yet, he had tried to deliver his best. This time around, his coalition is with a secular party – Congress – which has extended its support to him being the CM.
He is experienced too, this time around and has firm support and guidance of his father senior politician former Prime Minister Devegowda. Hence, the expectations from his government are high this time. Farmers’ distress and communal clashes are the most important challenges that the coalition government would be facing this term.
BJP had faced a humiliating defeat in 2013 assembly elections in Coastal Karnataka. BJP leaders had brought it upon themselves. But the lotus has bloomed again in undivided coastal Karnataka and BJP has won the seats. The party never sought elections in the name of development or progress. It went to the voters with ‘hindutva’ card. Sangh Parivar did all it can, to start communal clashes and seek votes in coastal Karnataka. Naturally BJP reaped the benefit of that in elections. Though the Sangh parivar tried to create similar clashes in other parts of the state, and the government couldn’t contain these efforts. As a result, Congress paid a heavy price in the elections.
Now that the BJP is deeply disappointed at not having been able to form the government, it will do everything it can, to destabilize the current government. It may spread anarchy starting from coastal Karnataka in order to create troubles for the government. Now that the Sangh Parivar is well established through politics too in this area, things would get easier too. Without any standing in the past, Sangh Parivar could wield the power. Now with powerful positions to its men, things become even easier than before.
Hence, it is imperative that the government elects a strong statesman as district incharge for coastal Karnataka. Except for Mangalore constituency, there is not a single Cong JD(S) MLA in the area. The government should not select someone weak for district incharge minister coming under some pressure or as a return to some favours. The inexperienced would only indirectly hand over the area to those experienced miscreants who can play their games taking advantage of the situation.
CM Kumaraswamy must identify a strong experienced leader who can take care of this area really well, with their political acumen and enable people to live here with peace. Congress has many such leaders, they must be put to service. This step is highly necessary in order to run the government without any troubles brewing here for the next five years.
The undivided coastal Karnataka, especially Mangalore, is the core of development and business. People would want to invest in Mangalore because the area holds a large potential. All the schemes and plans that were started last time, are waiting to get to the next level and works are in progress. Thousands of crores are being invested here. Miscreants can raze all this to dust with their evil plans. An able minister can steer the area towards development with his focus. The Ettina Hole project is mired in controversy and the unrest among people is palpable. Development and peace are what coastal area needs now and to enable this, an able leader is required in this area. This area needs to be calm to enable development works to go further. Our CM needs to understand this requirement and appoint a good able leader for this area.
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Big and powerful people in India, abroad joined hands to remove me from power: PM Modi
Chikkaballapura/Bengaluru, Apr 20: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said big and powerful people in India and abroad have joined hands to remove him from power.
Modi also attacked the Congress government in the state.
Citing recent incidents of the bomb blast in Bengaluru and the murder of a girl student in Hubballi in north Karnataka, he urged the people of the state to be alert about Congress, and also accused the party's government here of being "focused on corruption".
"Mothers and sisters have come in a large number here.Your struggle and the challenges you face to nurture your family, Modi has seen this in his house. These days big and powerful people in the country and abroad have united to remove Modi," he said.
"But, because of Nari Shakti and Maatru Shakti's blessings and Suraksha kavach (safety armour), Modi is able to move on fighting challenges," he said addressing campaign rallies in Chikkaballapura and here.
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"Serving mothers, sisters and daughters and protecting them is Modi's priority," the PM said, listing out measures taken by his government for women's welfare in ten years like supporting their self help groups and creating 'Lakhpati Didis'.
Modi said the first phase of voting for Lok Sabha on Friday has gone in favour of NDA and 'Viksit Bharat'.
Targeting the INDIA bloc, he said the opposition alliance doesn't have a leader at present, and has no vision for future, and "their history was of scams."
Praising JD(S) patriarch and former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda who shared the stage with him, for his energy and commitment at the age of 90, Modi said he too draws inspiration from him.
"His (Gowda) commitment towards Karnataka, the pain in his heart for the plight of Karnataka today and the 'josh' in his voice, is the testimony for Karnataka's bright future," he said, as he thanked Gowda for his "blessings".
The JD(S) joined the NDA in September last year.
Earlier, in his speech at Chikkaballapura rally, Gowda hit out at Congress, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar over a sarcasm-laced newspaper advertisement campaign alleging that the Modi government's gift to Karnataka was empty 'Chombu' (a small, round water container).
Pointing at scams like 2G and coal gate during UPA rule under Manmohan Singh and Sonia Gandhi, he said, "After looting the resources of the state and the country during the Congress regime, Modi was given the empty 'Chombu', which the prime minister has turned into 'Akshaya Patre' in ten years."
Modi, later addressing a public rally in Bengaluru said that in 2014 and 2019, a strong government was formed with people giving record seats to the BJP, which has made the country strong. India was earlier considered among "fragile five", but today every country in the world wants to strengthen friendship with India and investors want to invest in the country, he said.
India today is among the world's top five economies, he said. India today is not the one that follows, but has become the "first mover". "This has happened in just ten years."
In this election, INDIA bloc leaders are going around with an "old tape recorder," while Modi and his friends are seeking blessings once again with the track record, the prime minister said.
"The Congress and INDI Alliance's focus during the campaign was Modi, his parivaar, and false allegations about the prime minister, while Modi's focus is on India's development in the 21st century, its prosperity and its global image."
The NDA government is doing record investment in social, physical and digital infrastructure, he said.
Modi said the Karnataka Congress government's only focus is corruption.
Bengaluru's founder Nadaprabhu Kempegowda had dreamt of a magnificent city, but the Congress government in very less time has ruined the situation here, Modi said. Congress has changed tech city into tanker city, and has left it to the water mafia.
Whether it is agriculture or urban infrastructure, the budget is being cut in every sector in Karnataka, he said, adding, Congress' focus is only on corruption, but not on the issues faced by people of Bengaluru. "Only Central government projects are going at a fast pace in Karnataka."
Highlighting various developmental works undertaken by his government and its benefits for Bengaluru, the prime minister said Congress had tried to create an issue regarding Bengaluru-based defence PSU Hindustan Aeronautics Limited and had tried to defame Modi across India. "But, the same HAL today is achieving record turnover, record profit and record orders."
The Congress and INDI Alliance is "anti technology", he alleged, as he accused Congress had opposed Aadhaar and Jandhan accounts, and had made fun of digital payment, and tried to defame Corona vaccine, among others.
"Modi says that we will make the country a hub for green energy, pharma, electronics, electric vehicles, semiconductors, global innovation, so as to make India a hub for global economy, but Congress and INDI Alliance say that they will remove Modi.
"Modi's guarantee is -- 6G after 5G, we will bring AI, Gaganyaan after Chandrayaan, and they (Congress and INDIA) say that they will remove Modi," he said, calling Congress anti -- youth, investment, tax payer, entrepreneurship and wealth creator.
Stating that attacks happening on our daughters, those listening to bhajans and kirtans in Karnataka, bombs exploding at markets, and these are not common incidents, the prime minister said, "I urge the people of Karnataka and Bengaluru to be alert about Congress."
Lok Sabha polls in Karnataka will be held in two phases - April 26 and May 7.
