Will present a 'pro farmer' budget in February: CM Yediyurappa
Bengaluru: Exuding confidence about the BJP winning in all 15 constituencies going to bypolls on December 5, Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa on Tuesday said there would be a stable government in the state and he would present a "pro farmer" budget in February.
Observing that the Congress and JD(S) were only making statements about a possible tie-up after the by-elections, but there was nothing happening on ground, he said in a way both parties have already conceded defeat.
"I have visited twice all the 15 constituencies and there is a pro BJP atmosphere everywhere, beyond our expectation. I have already said that we will win all the fifteen constituencies," Yediyurappa claimed.
Speaking to reporters in Hubballi, he said, Congress and JD(S) leaders have been giving statements about they being united, but there was nothing happening on ground.
"(JDS leaders) Kumaraswamy makes a statement, Deve Gowda makes a different statement, I don't want to react to it, but in all the 15 constituencies people are supporting us beyond our expectation, with an intention that Yediyurappa should give a stable and good government.
I'm committed to giving a good administration," he added.
The ruling BJP needs to win at least six seats in the bypolls to 15 constituencies to remain in a majority in the 224-member assembly, which would still have two vacant seats-- Maski and R R Nagar.
Pointing out that Congress and JD(S)could not come together and field a candidate against K C Ramamurthy of BJP for Rajya Sabha by-election, Yediyurappa said, "they (Congress-JDS) in a way have already accepted the defeat, so where is the question of Yediyurappa resigning?"
"Mostly Congress may seek Siddaramaiah's resignation as the leader of opposition after bypolls....
people will give answer to them on December 9 (results date), let them be peacefully until then at least."
Among 15 constituencies going to the bypolls, 12 were held by Congress and three by JD(S), whose coalition government collapsed due to rebellion by the disqualified MLAs.
With winning majority of seats being crucial for the government's survival, BJP has fielded 13 of the 16 disqualified legislators who joined the party as its candidates from their respective constituencies.
Assuring that he would present a pro farmer budget in February, Yediyurappa said, my intention is that farmers should come out of all difficulties and lead a peaceful life.
"I will try to find a solution to their problems and announce new programmes in the budget during the February session," he said.
As Tuesday is the last date for campaigning, political leaders in the state have intensified electioneering in various constituencies, in a last bid to woo the voters.
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Fully confident of winning bypolls to 2 Assembly constituencies in Karnataka: CM Siddaramaiah
Davangere (Karnataka) (PTI): Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday asserted that he was one hundred per cent confident that Congress will win by-polls to two Assembly Constituencies in the state, claiming the BJP will face defeat, similar to what they experienced in earlier byelections.
He also played down the disgruntlement among the other ticket aspirants in the Congress, saying that everyone will be convinced and come together to ensure the party's victory.
Bypolls for the Bagalkot and Davanagere South Assembly constituencies will be held on April 9. The polls were necessitated following the deaths of senior Congress MLAs H Y Meti and Shamanur Shivashankarappa, respectively.
"I'm one hundred per cent confident that we will win both seats. BJP may claim that they will win, but where have they won? They had made similar claims in the previous bypolls, didn't we defeat sons of former CMs Basavaraj Bommai and H D Kumaraswamy?" Siddaramaiah asked in response to a question.
Speaking to reporters here, he said the BJP may claim things, but the Congress government has fulfilled its promises and walked the talk by implementing five guarantee schemes.
"People of the state are in our (Congress) favour. We have proved it in the previous byelections. People, including Dalits, backward class people, poor, farmers and minorities -- all of them are with us," he added.
When questioned about claims by some BJP leaders that the bypoll results would indicate the outcome of the 2028 Assembly polls in the state, the CM asked, "When they won't win, what indicator is that?"
"We are in power, we won three by-elections earlier, and I'm confident that we will win these by-elections too," he added.
Congress in November 2024 had swept the by-polls to three Assembly constituencies -- Sandur, Shiggaon and Channapatna.
Responding to a question, Siddaramaiah claimed that the BJP will face defeat in all four states -- Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, and the union territory of Puducherry -- which are going for polls.
After several rounds of discussion amid stiff competition for the party tickets, Congress on Sunday announced Umesh Meti and Samarth Mallikarjun as the party candidates for Assembly by-polls to Bagalkot and Davangere South assembly constituencies, respectively.
The Congress gave tickets to family members of the late legislators in both constituencies. While Umesh Meti is the son of H Y Meti, Samarth Mallikarjun is the grandson of Shamanur Shivashankarappa.
Expressing confidence that the disgruntlement within the party, following candidate selection, especially in the Davangere South constituency, will be resolved, the CM said, adding that the candidate selection was a unanimous decision by the party.
Pointing out that ticket aspirant Sadiq Pailwan has announced he will contest as a rebel in Davangere South, he said, "We will try and convince him."
When asked whether Muslims would be compensated, Siddaramaiah said, "Nothing has been discussed, but we will try to give representation to minorities."
There was a strong demand from Muslims for the Davangere South ticket, as the community has a significant presence in the constituency. Some factions within Congress had opposed giving the ticket to the Shamanur family.
