Mangaluru: Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president B K Hariprasad has accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of using its padayatra in Kalyana Karnataka to project and establish the leadership of “junior Yediyurappa”, rather than genuinely assessing the drought situation in the region.
Hariprasad said several of the taluks covered by the BJP’s padayatra were severely affected by drought. He questioned why the BJP had not raised the issue during the recently concluded legislature session if the party was genuinely concerned about the situation.
Hariprasad questions BJP’s drought concerns
Speaking about the BJP’s padayatra, Hariprasad alleged that the exercise was politically motivated.
He said that if the BJP was genuinely concerned about drought-affected areas, its leaders could have raised the issue in the legislature and demanded appropriate relief measures from the government.
Instead, he described the padayatra as a “paid yatra, like paid news”, questioning the intention behind taking the issue to the streets after the legislature session had concluded.
Hariprasad’s remarks come amid political exchanges between the ruling Congress and BJP over the drought situation in Karnataka and the government’s response to affected areas.
According to Hariprasad, the BJP had an opportunity to discuss the issue through the legislative process but did not adequately do so. He suggested that the subsequent padayatra was aimed more at political messaging than addressing the difficulties faced by farmers and residents in drought-hit areas.
BJP leadership projection alleged
Hariprasad also linked the padayatra to what he described as confusion over leadership within the BJP.
He alleged that several BJP leaders had stayed away from the padayatra because of internal differences over leadership. According to him, the programme was subsequently being used as a platform to project new leadership.
His reference to “junior Yediyurappa” was aimed at the BJP’s alleged effort to promote a younger leadership face associated with former Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa.
Hariprasad maintained that the political objective of the march was more prominent than its stated purpose of assessing drought conditions.
The BJP has been conducting political programmes on issues affecting the State, while the Congress government has faced criticism from the Opposition over its handling of drought and other public concerns.
Congress and BJP trade corruption charges
Hariprasad also responded to the BJP’s allegations of corruption against the Congress government.
He said the BJP had no moral right to raise corruption allegations against the Congress, while accusing the BJP itself of facing corruption-related charges.
The exchange reflects the continuing political confrontation between the two major parties in Karnataka, with both sides raising allegations against the other over governance and corruption.
Hariprasad defended the Congress government’s record and questioned the BJP’s credibility in raising such issues.
The allegations and counter-allegations remain part of the broader political debate in the State, with the Opposition continuing to scrutinise the functioning of the Congress government.
Defends CM’s aerial drought survey
Responding to criticism of Chief Minister D K Shivakumar’s aerial survey of drought-hit areas, Hariprasad defended the exercise.
He said there was nothing wrong with conducting an aerial survey and noted that 101 taluks had already been declared drought-hit.
According to Hariprasad, the survey was intended to reinforce and assess the situation in areas affected by drought. He said the government was taking steps to understand the ground situation and determine the requirements of affected regions.
Hariprasad also said ministers had been directed to visit districts and taluks personally to assess the drought situation.
The visits, he said, would provide ministers with an opportunity to directly assess local conditions and understand the difficulties faced by people in affected areas.
Focus on upcoming Cabinet meeting
Hariprasad also spoke about the Karnataka Cabinet meeting scheduled to be held in Mangaluru on September 18.
He urged the State government to use the meeting to implement the development promises made in the Congress election manifesto.
The upcoming meeting is expected to attract attention from the coastal region, with various development-related issues likely to be raised by elected representatives and stakeholders.
Hariprasad’s appeal comes amid expectations that the Cabinet meeting will address issues concerning the coastal districts and consider measures relating to development and public welfare.
He stressed the need for the government to translate the promises made during the election campaign into concrete development measures.
Responds to Siddaramaiah succession remark
Hariprasad also reacted to Congress MLA Pradeep Eshwar’s statement that Siddaramaiah would become the next Chief Minister.
He clarified that the statement represented the personal opinion of the MLA and should not be considered the official position of the Congress party.
Hariprasad’s response sought to distance the party from speculation surrounding the Chief Minister’s post and leadership succession.
The remarks come amid continuing political discussion over leadership within the Congress, with individual leaders and legislators occasionally expressing their views on the future political leadership of the State.
Hariprasad maintained that a personal statement by an MLA does not automatically represent the party’s position.
Political debate intensifies over drought
Hariprasad’s comments bring together several issues currently featuring prominently in Karnataka’s political discourse — drought management, Opposition protests, allegations of corruption and leadership within the major political parties.
While the BJP has sought to highlight issues affecting drought-hit regions through its padayatra, the Congress has defended the government’s efforts, including the assessment of drought conditions and ministerial visits to affected areas.
With 101 taluks already declared drought-hit, the effectiveness of relief and development measures is likely to remain an important political and administrative issue in the coming weeks.
The September 18 Cabinet meeting in Mangaluru is also expected to provide an opportunity for the government to consider development priorities and respond to demands from different parts of the State.
For now, Hariprasad’s remarks have added another dimension to the political debate, with the KPCC president questioning the BJP’s motives behind its Kalyana Karnataka padayatra while urging the Congress government to fulfil its election commitments.