From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
Bengaluru/Hubballi, Jan 16: AICC General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra arrived in Bengaluru on Monday afternoon to participate in the Women’s Convention of the State Congress at the Bengaluru Palace Grounds.
KPCC Chief D K Shivakumar, Congress opposition leader Siddaramaiah and other senior party leaders welcomed the Congress leader at the Bengaluru International Airport.
Priyanka Gandhi is expected to announce the State Congress party’s string of promise to the women in Karnataka for the State Assembly poll after the party took the ruling BJP and other political parties by surprise by coming out with its first poll promise of 200 units of free power for all households in the Congress party came to power, which unnerved the Bommai government.
The Congress promise upset BJP to such an extent that the chief minister, state BJP chief Nalin Kumar Kateel as well as state energy minister V Sunil Kumar attacking the Congress party for being ‘’reckless and irresponsible’’ in announcing 200 units of free power, which they alleged that the State Energy Supply companies would be driven to bankruptcy.
The Bommai government even released full page advertisement in newspapers on the ruling BJP’s plans for the empowerment of women.
Meanwhile, the chief minister, who reached Hubballi, took a dig at the Congress party that the opposition party has been reduced to such a pitiable position that it has to project Priyanka Gandhi as a 'leader.'.
“The Congress convention on women, which is being addressed by Priyanka’’ Gandhi under the title ‘Naa Nayaki’ is nothing but the party’s plight in declaring Sonia Gandhi’s daughter as a leader,’’ Bommai said.
Speaking to media persons in the Hubballi airport, Bommai said: “We have no problem in Priyanka Gandhi’s arrival or addressing the party gathering. But the Congress party’s newspaper advertisement for the convention, ‘Naa Nayaki’ is laughable. It is evident that the women of Karnataka are not prepared to accept Priyanka Gandhi as their leader.’’
Bommai said: “The Congress party is fully aware of the fact that the party is not coming to power and Priyanka Gandhi’s plans to announce a separate budget or promises for women will not help. Therefore, the Congress party is making announcements that they are not going to fulfil as people will reject it.’’
The chief minister said the Congress party is on the path of self-destruction. The Congress party’s criticism of the BJP national youth convention as ‘Vinashothsava’ or festival of destruction is indicative of the Congress party’s situation. The Congress party does not know how to appreciate good things or welcome positive develpments, he said.
Bommai said the National Youth Convention in Hubballi, which was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is a sign of the promises and assurances of bright future for the youth under BJP rule.