Congress deceived people with 'misleading poll guarantees' now replete with conditions: BJP
Bengaluru(PTI): The BJP attacked the Congress government in the Assembly on Wednesday, alleging that it deceived the people with their "misleading poll guarantees", which are now replete with conditions.
The party claimed that the Siddaramaiah government is fast losing its popularity as people are no longer relying on its guarantees.
Former deputy Chief Minister R Ashoka sought to pick holes in the five 'guarantees' promised in the Congress party's election manifesto. He alleged that the government introduced numerous conditions in these guarantees and limited the number of beneficiaries.
Ashoka charged that these conditions in the guarantees are creating confusion among people. Referring to the 'Shakti' scheme offering free rides for women in government buses, Ashoka noted that the Congress manifesto did not mentions any conditions but after coming to power, the government said the scheme is available only in non-luxury buses.
Ashoka accused the government of plying only a limited number of buses, which has led to incidents of damage to bus doors and windows due to heavy rush.
"The crowded state-owned buses show that people do not have confidence in the government. Women believe that the scheme will be withdrawn very soon and hence they are rushing to travel free of cost," the BJP legislator claimed.
Regarding 'Gruha Jyoti' scheme offering 200 units free power for residential purposes, Ashoka said the party should have said in the manifesto itself that they would take average power consumption into consideration.
About 'Gruha Lakshmi' scheme offering Rs 2,000 to women heads of families, he said this guarantee has "pitched mothers-in-law against their daughters-in-law".
The 'Yuva Nidhi' scheme will be applicable only six months later and benefits only those who got a degree or diploma this year, he pointed out.
In response, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah retorted that the BJP, which "failed" to appoint a leader of the opposition, is "talking about the failure of the guarantees".
"Ashoka seems to be opposing free bus ride for women. Even if you stand up and create ruckus we will not be scared," the chief minister said.
He said the people of the state had given their verdict, which should be a lesson for the BJP.
In the May elections to the 224-member Assembly, the Congress came to power with 135 seats, while the BJP secured 66 and the JD (S) 19.
Siddaramaiah said that out of the five guarantees, three have come into effect, one will be implemented from July 16 while 'Yuva Nidhi' will come into force six months later. He said all five guarantees would come into effect in the current financial year.
Earlier in the day, the opposition BJP withdrew its protests inside the Assembly over the alleged non-implementation of the five 'guarantees' promised by the ruling Congress in its poll manifesto, after Speaker U T Khader gave them time to raise their issue post Zero Hour.
Disruptions marred the proceedings on Tuesday after the Speaker did not allow former chief minister Basavaraj Bommai to move an adjournment motion seeking a debate on the issue, leading to pandemonium. BJP members were firm on their demand for a discussion on the Congress government's "non-implementation" of 'guarantees'.
As soon as the session resumed on Wednesday morning, the BJP MLAs sought time for discussion on the issue.
The Speaker agreed to give them time post Zero hour, following which the BJP withdrew its protests.
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After arriving from Delhi, Shinde heads to his native village; Mahayuti meet likely on Sun
Mumbai(PTI): Outgoing Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, who returned to Mumbai from New Delhi on Friday morning, is travelling to his native village in Satara district amid continuing suspense over his successor a week after the assembly poll results.
Shinde had told reporters in New Delhi on late Thursday night that the next meeting of the Mahayuti alliance on government formation will be held in Mumbai on Friday.
However, the caretaker CM, who heads the Shiv Sena, is travelling to his native village Dare in Satara district in western Maharashtra and the meeting is now expected to take place on Sunday, the sources said.
The Shiv Sena leader has repeatedly said he would not be an obstacle in the government formation and abide by the decisions taken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah on the next chief minister.
Different viewpoints are emerging in the Shiv Sena over Shinde's place in the next government to be headed by the BJP, the biggest constituent in the Mahayuti, which posted a thumping win in the just-held assembly polls.
Many leaders in the Shiv Sena are asking Shinde to accept deputy CM's post if offered by the BJP. However, another section feels it wouldn't be right for him to accept No. 2 position after serving as CM for more than two-and-a-half years, the sources said.
"The government formation process will start after the BJP announces its legislature party leader," they said.
During his Delhi trip, Shinde had met Shah and discussed formation of the next government in the state. His deputies in the outgoing state cabinet Devendra Fadnavis (BJP) and Ajit Pawar (NCP) had also met the senior BJP leader.
Talking to reporters in the national capital, Shinde called the discussion “good and positive”.
Shinde, Fadnavis and Pawar had also met BJP president J P Nadda.
