Speaking after inaugurating a public programme in connection with the party's poll campaigning of the upcoming local body elections at Town Hall in Mangalore on Thursday, Mr. Gowda said that people have appreciated BJP administration in local bodies across the state and hence, the party is confident of walking away with electoral victory in the scheduled polls.
“People all over the state have expressed appreciation at our policies and the way we have gone about administrating the state. We are confident that we will win more than 50% of the seats in all local bodies put together in the state. In Mangalore City Corporation, we are confident of bagging at least 45 seats”, Mr. Gowda said.
The BJP's election mantra is development, Mr. Gowda said, while pointing out that recent electoral victories in the country, especially Gujarat Assembly elections, are cursor towards this trend of people looking at development as a criterion to cast their votes.
The city of Mangalore witnessed considerable development after the BJP took reigns of the MCC, Mr. Gowda said. “Our government has generously granted funds for MCC to carry out developmental works. The total grants provided to MCC by all previous state governments put together amounts to around Rs. 400 odd crores but in the last five years alone, our government has released funds close to Rs. 500 crores. We have introduced e-initiatives such as 'Karnataka One' projects to give greater transparency in operations. We extended the 'Sakaala' inititaive to local bodies as well which has ensured that services are provided in time besides tackling of corruption. Effective solid waste management and recycling measures have been taken by us in addition to addressing of people's basic needs like water woes, cleanliness and health”, he said.
'It is BJP's achievements not BSY's'
The former Chief Minister took a dig at his predecessor B S Yeddyurappa for projecting the BJP's achievements as his own and seeking support from people for his new party KJP on the basis of works carried out during his tenure as Chief Minister.
“It was the BJP manifesto which was implemented in his time. No Chief Minister can claim that all achievements were his own. The 'Sakaala' initiative was implemented during my period. But I will not say it was my achievement because it was a decision taken by the party core committee and elders in the party. I was only a nominal head of the body who was handed over the responsibility of implementing it”, Mr. Gowda said.
Election Manifesto
N Yogish Bhat, Deputy Speaker, Karnataka Legislative Assembly, released the BJP's election manifesto for local body polls on the occasion.
Among the proposed projects planned by the BJP in its manifesto are setting up of service centres on the 'Bangalore One' model in all towns and cities of the state, bringing of more civil services under the 'Sakaala' scheme, recycling of used water and its ultilisation for various purposes, implementation of Town Cluster Development project to sharpen economic activity in and around towns, creation of a 'slum-free' state, construction of more sophesticated bus stands in every town, setting up of more pre-paid auto and taxi stands in all prominent towns, creation of 'Urban Forests' for a cleaner, healthier environment besides implementation of 'Manegeradu Mara' (Two trees per house) project, emphasis on having CFL and LED lights in all cities, greater stress on maximum usage of solar energy, introduction of health centres for dialysis, diabetes and heart related ailments in cities, health insurance facilities for lower middle class families, setting up of girls hostels in the jurisdiction of local bodies, free training centres for SC/STs, minorities and backward classes, besides others.
Monappa Bhandary, MLC, Former Mayors Ganesh Hosabettu, Shankar Bhat and Rajani Dugganna, party candidates of different wards contesting for the MCC polls, were also present.
Comments
Add new comment