Karnataka polls: Congress’s Shivakumar says corruption will be rooted out on May 10

“These next 40 days are very important. May 10 will mark the day for a new Karnataka, a day for a progressive Karnataka and it will be a day where corruption will be rooted out. We will come up with a manifesto shortly. We want a global Karnataka,” he said. “The double engine has failed and a new-engine government will be created on May 10. It will decide your future and the future of the state of Karnataka. It will be a day when people write their own future.”

Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, who retreated from public view after the polls were announced, said the Congress was just dreaming and that the BJP would win a full majority.

“The BJP is a strong cadre-based party. The party has already held several campaigns at the booth level, conventions of morchas, Sankalp Yatra and Vijay Sankalp Yatra. Organising the party is a continuous process. All preparation has been done to face the polls,” Bommai said.

The chief minister said schemes of the central government, grants for infrastructure, welfare schemes of the state government, major decisions taken in favour of farmers, women, youths, SC/ST, OBC, assistance to the poor and drinking water schemes in rural areas would help the BJP.

“The demand to hike the quotas for SC/ST communities, which was pending for 40 years, was fulfilled by the BJP government. The increase in the internal reservation and changes in OBCs have changed the mindset of the electorate in favour of the BJP,” he said.

Bommai said that traditional vote banks of the Congress had been destroyed. He said the visits of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah in the past three months had made a positive impact for the party. “On May 13, 2023, the BJP will get an absolute majority and it will rule the state for another five years,” he said.

Shivakumar suggested that the Modi’s and Shah’s frequent visits were a sign of the BJP’s lack of confidence in winning the polls. “If the BJP is so sure of getting a clear majority, why are they calling PM Modi every second day of the week to Karnataka? Why are they getting their leaders to reside in the state? Why are they roaming around every nook and corner of the state? Is it because they have done great work that they are visiting the homes of MLAs and leaders? They have gone to Yediyurappa’s home after harassing him, bringing tears to his eyes and now they are doing new things. It is all very evident,” Shivakumar said.

Janata Dal (Secular) leader H D Kumaraswamy, who welcomed the announcement of the poll date, said the crackdown by the income tax department on the movement of large amounts of illegal funds should not lead to the harassment of innocent people. “These days it is usually the honest people who are harassed if they are found with large amounts of money. The corrupt know how to evade authorities. Everybody knows what is happening with agencies in the country. Yesterday, PM Modi himself gave a clean certificate to his own government,” the former chief minister said.

The JD(S) is putting together its manifesto with promises for the working class ranging from autorickshaw drivers, taxi drivers and anganwadi workers, he said.

The polls are scheduled for May 10 with results to be announced on May 13.