“The Congress has betrayed the minorities only to gain power. The only thing it has done is to misuse the minority vote. Minorities have only been used as a vote bank. The Congress has betrayed their trust only to gain power,” BJP State unit president B.Y. Vijayendra said on Sunday.
He told reporters in Davangere that this fact is no longer a secret and that even the minorities have come to clearly understand this and now, they are only waiting to give a reply to the Congress leaders.
“Once it came to power in Karnataka, the Congress has conveniently forgotten the minorities and their needs for development. However, increased awareness about this among the voters is now being felt during this byelection. That is why, senior Congress leaders are hurrying to convince Muslim voters and leaders,” he said.
“The BJP, on the other hand, believes in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s idea of Sab ka Saat, Sab ka Vikas. We are trying to include every community in the development efforts. Only when minorities join hands with Hindus, the country will move on the path of development. When the BJP was in power in the State, it built Haj Bhavans. What is the contribution of the Congress to minorities?” he asked.
To a query, he said that the bypolls have the potential to change the direction of State politics.
“Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will yield to the Congress high command after the elections in the five States. It is clear that he cannot continue as Chief Minister forever,” he said.
“A change in State politics will be visible within a week of the completion of the elections in the five States. We don’t have to wait for many days for this. Mr. Siddaramaiah has already hinted at this, during a reply on the floor of the House,” Mr. Vijayendra said.
Mr. Vijayendra accused the Congress leaders of failing to develop Davangere despite the district electing party nominees for decades.
“Although the voters here have continuously blessed the Congress, the constituency has not been developed. Naturally, the voters are upset about this. This time, voters want change. They will support the BJP regardless of the money power and strength of the local Congress leaders,” he said.
To a query, he said that initially, “there was some confusion in the BJP. But once the high command announced our candidate, all our workers have come together. We have given ticket to an ordinary worker T. Srinivasa Dasakariappa. He will emerge victorious,” he said.
“Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is going around boasting that he has broken the record of Devaraj Urs of being the longest serving Chief Minister of Karnataka. He is also proud of presenting 17 Budgets and setting a record. But then, such records have not benefited the people of the State or Davangere,” he said.