Send Guarantee Panel Chiefs Home, Let Officials Run Schemes: Vijayendra

Dharmasthala: Karnataka BJP president BY Vijayendra on Friday called on Chief Minister DK Shivakumar to "send the guarantee committee chairmen home" and entrust the implementation of the state's flagship welfare schemes to government officials, citing alleged irregularities flagged in the CAG report in connection to Gruha Lakshmi program.

"First, send the guarantee committee chairmen home. Take government officials into confidence and implement the guarantee schemes through them. If hundreds of crores have been lost despite these committees being in place at the state, district, and taluk levels, the Congress party is responsible," he told reporters during his visit to Sri Kshetra Dharmasthala.

“The Chief Minister should take officials into confidence. You have confidence in Congress leaders but not in officials?” he questioned.

Vijayendra said he prayed for good rainfall to end the drought-like conditions in Karnataka, for farmers to receive remunerative prices for their produce, and for their livelihoods to improve. He added that he had also prayed for a pro-people government to come to power in the state under the collective leadership of the BJP whenever the next Assembly elections are held, one that would protect Hindus and ensure Karnataka's all-round development.

Rejecting allegations of having any "close" or "business" relationship with Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, Vijayendra said attempts to link him to the recent Legislative Council cross-voting episode were part of a campaign orchestrated by "our own people." "These allegations have become a subject of discussion on social media and in sections of the media. I am aware that the reason behind these discussions is our own people," he said.

Referring to the BJP's victory in the recent Legislative Council elections, Vijayendra said both party candidates - senior leader Lingaraj Patil and OBC Morcha leader Raghu Kautilya - had won despite cross-voting. However, he admitted that the incident of cross voting had deeply hurt him and lakhs of BJP workers.

"I had emotionally suggested that a legislative party meeting be held at the Dharmasthala so that the truth behind the cross-voting could emerge. But senior party leaders advised me against pursuing the idea and asked me to bring the matter to the notice of the party heads instead. I respected their advice," he said.

"Today I have come here as a devotee and offered prayers," he said.

Vijayendra said rumours linking him to DK Shivakumar were baseless.

"There is neither any business relationship nor any personal closeness between DK Shivakumar and me. As the KPCC president and Chief Minister, I extend him the respect due to his position. Beyond that, there is nothing," he said, and maintained that he had complete confidence in his own conduct.

"The responsibility of leading the Karnataka BJP was entrusted to me with the blessings of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. There is no question of indulging in such low-level politics," he asserted.

The BJP state president expressed confidence that the truth behind the cross-voting would soon emerge, claiming that the party's central leadership was collecting all relevant information.

"Those who have betrayed the party cannot be spared. Our senior leaders have taken the matter seriously. The truth will come out sooner or later," he said.

Reacting to allegations made by former minister ST Somashekhar, Vijayendra claimed the MLA had been in contact with three BJP legislators and suggested that "the reasons behind his statements will become clear in the coming days."

On former chief minister DV Sadananda Gowda's reported warning about attempts to influence BJP MLAs, Vijayendra said Gowda had not named any individual but had generally cautioned that Congress leaders were trying to establish contact with some legislators. He added that BJP leader CT Ravi had been asked to gather further details.

Responding to former minister KS Eshwarappa's statement on operation Kamala and defection of 17 MLAs, Vijayendra said he did not wish to react at length as Eshwarappa was neither a BJP MLA nor a member of the party. However, he said Eshwarappa appeared to have forgotten the circumstances under which 17 legislators had resigned from the Congress-JD(S) coalition government in 2019 and joined the BJP under BS Yediyurappa's leadership.

Vijayendra alleged that during Siddaramaiah's previous tenure as chief minister, more than 18 Hindu activists were murdered and hundreds of BJP workers were booked in police cases.

"In such a situation, during the JDS-Congress coalition government, the 17 MLAs joined hands with the BJP, leading to the formation of a good government under BS Yediyurappa. Fifteen of them won the subsequent by-elections, and thousands of BJP workers got opportunities in various boards and corporations," he said.

Taking a swipe at Eshwarappa, Vijayendra said he too had "enjoyed power" as the Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister in that government. While making a passing reference to the suicide of a contractor during Eshwarappa's tenure, he remarked that he did not wish to discuss the issue further as "it would not be appropriate for me."

Expressing confidence about the party's future, Vijayendra said the BJP would intensify its statewide campaign against what he termed the Congress government's anti-people, anti-farmer, and anti-youth policies.

"I was made state president to strengthen the organisation, not to become chief minister. All our leaders must function as a team. With the blessings of our senior leaders and the strength of lakhs of party workers, I am confident the BJP will return to power with an absolute majority. I have told this to our central and state leaders," he said.

On the Bidadi land issue, Vijayendra said he and Leader of the Opposition R Ashoka had discussed the matter with the party's central leadership in New Delhi and asserted that the BJP would strongly oppose any move to evict farmers.