BBMP poll: Congress chargesheet to focus on ‘mess’ created by BJP

BENGALURU: Stepping up the attack against Opposition BJP and JD(S) ahead of BBMP elections, KPCC president Dr G. Parameshwar declared on Wednesday that his party would soon release a chargesheet against them for the “mess” caused in Bengaluru.

Speaking to media persons after meeting Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and leaders of Bengaluru district unit of the party here, he said “For the last eight years, be it in the form of BBMP or BMP, leaders of BJP and Janata Dal (S) were clearly responsible for disintegration of the maintenance system. Both these parties are equal partners in this crime.”

According to him, the charge-sheet would contain all details of scams committed by these parties which led to collapse of the civic administration. “We will take two more days to prepare this exhaustive charge-sheet,” he added.

The KPCC president also highlighted the fact that the state government had released Rs 3,700 crores as grants over the last two years to improve BBMP’s condition but nothing seems to have changed due to the BJP’s expertise in maladministration.

While disclosing details of the meeting, Dr Parameshwar revealed that the party would take the BJP head-on during its campaign. “Party spokespersons have been instructed to arm themselves with all statistics and issues concerning BJP and JD(S) follies committed during the last eight years in order to counter them at every step and every debate in the electronic media,” he added.

Mr Parameshwar also had a word of caution for spokespersons of his party: they should not create unnecessary confusion by issuing unwarranted statements or comments during the debate. “Spokespersons need to act cautiously too,” he added.

BJP to harp on Congressmen’s land grab

In an effort to counter the charge-sheet of Congress, particularly charges of corruption against BJP during its tenure in BBMP, leaders of BJP are set to attack ruling Congress MLAs on land grabbing cases registered against them.

Since BJP leaders have not raised land grabbing cases against few Congress MLAs so far, the city unit of the party has decided to counter the Congress by focusing on alleged land grabbing cases against Congress MLAs including, N.A. Haris and Munirathna Naidu. “Mr. Haris has encroached upon BDA property including tank bund areas. We will make this a BBMP poll issue”, said BJP MLC Ashwathnarayana, adding “Congress is not in a position to put up a fight against us because it has finding it difficult to field suitable candidates against our party. The ruling party is not getting winnable candidates,” he added.

Mr. Ashwathnarayana is part of BBMP election strategy team for wards under Vijayanagar and Govindarajanagar Assembly constituencies. He said the Congress cannot claim of launching major infrastructure projects in Bengaluru city. The Congress has talked about elevated steel bridge to Kempegowda International Airport in Devanahalli from central Bengaluru, but has failed to earmark funds for that project. Besides, the Chief Minister has failed to release funds for BBMP because BJP was in power in the city civic body. Due to non-cooperation of the state government, BBMP has not able to take up major infrastructure projects, he added.

Mr B.N. Vijayakumar, MLA, said party leaders would convene a meeting on Thursday to discuss poll strategies. Prior to that, the party has asked for a detailed report from city unit leaders regarding advantages and disadvantages in each ward. “BJP has set a target of winning 120 plus seats. We will do better than previous BBMP polls,” he added. The BJP would release its manifesto on August 9.