Karnataka - Gulbarga   

‘There is no doubt about BJP’s success’

B.S. Yeddyurappa

GULBARGA: BJP’s chief ministerial candidate B.S. Yeddyurappa exudes confidence about the party getting a comfortable majority and is amazed at the overwhelming support received from all sections, particularly the minorities.

Mr. Yeddyurappa, who spent some time with family members on the occasion of his granddaughter’s birthday here, told The Hindu that he did not have any doubt about the BJP coming to power in the State.

“We were worried about the constituencies going to the polls in the first phase where we were not strong. The party has fared well in the second phase, and the constituencies going to polls in the third phase are our strongholds,” the former Chief Minister said.

Mr. Yeddyurappa, who is pitted against former Chief Minister S. Bangarappa in his traditional Shikaripur Assembly segment, said despite the grand design of the Congress and the Janata Dal (Secular) to “keep me out of the Assembly by supporting Mr. Bangarappa, the voters of Shikaripur have decided in my favour.”

The former Chief Minister was all praise for AICC general secretary Arun Jaitley, who is in charge of BJP for the polls,

“If Mr. Jaitley was not there the BJP would not have been in such a sound position in the State now.”

Mr. Yeddyurappa came down on Congress president Sonia Gandhi for remaining silent on the demand made by the State Congress leaders for amending Article 371 of the Constitution during her electioneering in Gulbarga district on Saturday.

Ms. Gandhi was also silent on the demand for according the classical language tag to Kannada, he pointed out.

He admitted that the BJP also made a mistake when it was in power at the Centre in not conceding the demand for amending Article 371.

“However, BJP prime ministerial candidate L.K. Advani has given an assurance that if the BJP is voted to power at the Centre, Article 371 would be amended and the classical language status accorded to Kannada,” he said.

To a question, Mr. Yeddyurappa said that the rebel and dissidence factor would not harm the prospects of the BJP. Mr. Yeddyurappa, while welcoming the restrictions imposed by the Election Commission on campaigning, said there were a few instances of party candidates and workers being harassed by officers.

He said that if the BJP was voted to power, it would implement all the promises made in the manifesto. It would also initiate steps to protect the rights of farmers, particularly red gram growers.

The former Minister G. Ramakrishna joined the BJP in the presence of Mr. Yeddyurappa. Former Additional Director-General of Police Subash Bharani and former Minister Vaijnath Patil were present.

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