CONGRATULATIONS: Revenue Minister Jagadish Shettar (left) and Deputy Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa greeting BJP State unit President D.V. Sadananda Gowda (right) in Bangalore on Saturday. — Photo: V. Sreenivasa Murthy

BANGALORE: Devaragunda Venkappa Sadananda Gowda, new President of the Bharatiya Janata Party's State unit, has said there are many challenges before him in the era of coalition politics and he will act as a link between the party and the Government, and address grievances of party workers.

Speaking after assuming office at a public function on the Malleswaram Grounds on Saturday, he told BJP workers to maintain unity and discipline to ensure that the party becomes stronger. He said every BJP worker should feel he or she is a member of a family and contribute to the party's programmes. He has no ill will towards anyone and wants workers to cooperate with him, he added. Mr. Gowda, who is an MP from Mangalore, succeeds Jagadish Shettar, who has been appointed Minister for Revenue.

Challenges

Mr. Gowda, who served the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and the BJP in various capacities, said BJP leaders and Ministers must accept challenges and convert them into opportunities for strengthening the party. He said Deputy Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa, who holds the Finance portfolio, presented a "pro-poor" budget, and Ministers must take steps to ensure that benefits of schemes reach the needy.

Mr. Gowda recalled Mr. Shettar's contributions to the party and said it was owing to his efforts that the party won 79 seats in the last Legislative Assembly elections.

Earlier, Mr. Yediyurappa said the BJP has given a big responsibility to Mr. Gowda, and he has to secure for the party the support of all sections of people.

The Deputy Chief Minister said he will help him implement programmes.

He said elections to the Bangalore Mahanagara Palike Council will be held this year, and the BJP has to prepare a strategy.

He appealed to party workers to read the State budget and inform the people about the programmes. He will take a delegation of officials to Gujarat to study that State's model of development, he added.

Mr. Shettar said that during his tenure as State unit President, the BJP formed the government along with the Janata Dal (Secular).

He said he did not suspend any party leader during the tenure. The party conducted a training programme for leaders and workers at Murdeshwar in Uttara Kannada district, Mr. Shettar added.

BJP General Secretary and MP H.N. Ananth Kumar said the party has set a target of winning 100 seats in the next Assembly elections.

He criticised the Centre's policies and hoped the United Progressive Alliance Government (UPA) at the Centre will collapse.

BJP MP M. Venkaiah Naidu said Mr. Sadananda Gowda's major task is to provide feedback to the Government about the demands of the people and publicise the Government's programmes.

He predicted the fall of the UPA Government and called upon party workers be ready for Lok Sabha elections.

He described the resignation of Congress President Sonia Gandhi from the Lok Sabha seat and as Chairperson of the National Advisory Council as a big drama which was scripted and directed by Congress leaders.

BJP Ministers, MLAs and MLCs were present.

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