The Hindu : Karnataka News : Bangarappa predicts mid-term polls

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Oct 06, 2004

Karnataka

Karnataka

Bangarappa predicts mid-term polls

By Our Staff Correspondent

The BJP leader and former Chief Minister S. Bangarappa (left) addressing a press conference in Mangalore on Tuesday. Nagaraj Shetty, Bantwal MLA, and Nitin Kumar, president of the Mangalore city BJP unit (right), are seen.

MANGALORE, OCT. 5. The former Chief Minister S. Bangarappa is of the opinion that the State is headed for mid-term elections.

Stating this at a press conference here today, Mr. Bangarappa said elections seemed imminent because the coalition partners in the State Government — the Congress and the Janata Dal (S) — shared no common agenda or ideology and were "adjusting and re-adjusting" their stands, which was the sign of a "loosely knit" coalition.

`Marriage of convenience'

Terming the coalition a marriage of convenience, he said the Government was not even able to implement the Common Minimum Programme (CMP) in the State, which the Chief Minister, N. Dharam Singh, and the Deputy Chief Minister, Siddaramaiah, had committed themselves to.

He said the Bidar Lok Sabha byelection was important, as both the coalition partners had fielded candidates without coming to an understanding on a consensus candidate. This was an indication that not everything was right with the coalition. He said the BJP was already feeling good about the byelection and, in the event of a BJP win, it was beyond doubt that the Government would fall.

Mr. Bangarappa said the Congress had a "suffocating environment" and the biggest stumbling block for the party was its president, Sonia Gandhi.

He criticised the Congress for "politicking" with the lives of the people, particularly in delivering social justice and economic empowerment.

According to him, lack of social concern and lopsided economic policies of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government had led to social degeneration and economic under-achievement.

Inflation up

Mr. Bangarappa stated that during the term of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) Government inflation had come down to a record low of 4 per cent and the growth rate was a healthy 8 per cent. But now, inflation had reached 8 per cent and the growth rate was declining. These economic indicators showed that the economic policy of the UPA Government was not conducive to the growth pattern that the country needed.

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