Strong undercurrent in favour of JD(S) ahead of Karnataka polls: H D Kumaraswamy
Bengaluru, Dec 11: JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy on Sunday said there is a strong undercurrent in favour of his party, especially in the rural areas, in the run-up to assembly polls in Karnataka likely to be held by April-May 2023.
The former chief minister also expressed confidence about JD(S) winning more seats than Congress and BJP in Bengaluru, during the assembly polls.
He was speaking after inducting more than 50 BJP and Congress leaders from Chamrajpet assembly segment here.
"In 2023 polls, people will decide. Some BJP friends have themselves confessed in secret that JD(S)' graph is increasing over BJP...looking at the response to my Pancharatna Ratha Yatre (statewide tour), it is clear that people in rural areas have decided to give power to JD(S) independently this time. There is a strong undercurrent in our favour," Kumaraswamy said.
Stating that the BJP and Congress have done several internal surveys regarding their prospects in the polls, he said: "According to BJP, which was giving us about 18-20 seats earlier, are now saying that if polls are held today, JD(S) will get more than 55 seats...but we are in with a mission of winning 123 seats."
'Pancharatna Ratha Yatre' is to inform people about a five-fold programme called 'Pancharatna' that the JD(S) plans to implement on coming to power, which include quality education, health, housing, farmer welfare and employment.
Hoping to form an independent government with majority, JD(S) has set a target of winning at least 123 seats in the 224 member assembly.
Kumaraswamy had earlier headed a coalition government with both national parties in the past, for 20 months with BJP from February 2006, and with Congress for 14 months after the 2018 assembly polls.
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Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao criticizes Centre for steep hike in commercial LPG price
Bengaluru: Karnataka Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao has slammed the BJP government in the Centre for the hike in the price of commercial LPG, saying the sudden rise of the fuel rate by Rs 993 a cylinder has hit the common man hard.
Critically commenting that this was expected of the Centre after elections to five states, Rao posted in Kannada on his ‘X’ account on Saturday that the people have been shown only the trailer and, the real struggle is yet to begin.
“Since there is no election in any state, there will certainly be major hikes in the rates of petrol, diesel and domestic LPG in barely a few days,” he has predicted.
The minister has further tweeted, “The rate of commercial LPG has gone up to Rs 3,152 per cylinder, which will hit the hotel industry greatly. Ironically, the direct impact of the hike will be on customers of hotel.”
He pointed out that, earlier, the price used to be hiked by approximately Rs 50 and Rs 100 a cylinder. “This time, the rate has been shot up by Rs 993. What do we call this except daylight robbery? Can this be the ‘Acche Din’ that the BJP has been promising?” Rao asked mockingly.
He also questioned the cause for BJP members’ silence for the rate hike, reminding that the party always ‘threw a tantrum’ when a non-BJP government does so even at a minor level. “Does this reflect their fear of ‘Vishwaguru’ Modi? Is it the party’s sheer disregard for the welfare of the people?” he has questioned.
ಊಹಿಸಿದಂತೆಯೇ ಪಂಚರಾಜ್ಯ ಚುನಾವಣೆ ಬಳಿಕ ಕೇಂದ್ರ ಸರ್ಕಾರ ಬೆಲೆಯೇರಿಕೆಯ ಛಾಟಿ ಬೀಸಲು ಪ್ರಾರಂಭಿಸಿದೆ. ಕಮರ್ಷಿಯಲ್ ಸಿಲಿಂಡರ್ ಬೆಲೆಯನ್ನು ಏಕಾಏಕಿ ₹993 ಏರಿಸುವ ಮೂಲಕ ಮರ್ಮಘಾತ ನೀಡಿದೆ. ಚುನಾವಣೆ ಮುಗಿದ ಕೂಡಲೇ ಬೆಲೆಯೇರಿಕೆ ನಿರೀಕ್ಷಿತವಾಗಿತ್ತು. ಆದರೆ ಒಂದೇ ಭಾರಿ ₹993 ಹೆಚ್ಚಳ ಮಾಡಿರುವುದು ಅನಿರೀಕ್ಷಿತದ ಜೊತೆಗೆ ಆಘಾತ ತಂದಿದೆ.…
— Dinesh Gundu Rao/ದಿನೇಶ್ ಗುಂಡೂರಾವ್ (@dineshgrao) May 2, 2026
