Daijiworld Media Network – Kalaburagi
Kalaburagi, Apr 19: As part of its Janakrosh Yatra, the Karnataka BJP staged a massive show of strength in Kalaburagi on Friday, sending out a strong message of unity and long-term political engagement while lashing out at the Congress leadership in both state and district.
Addressing a sea of party supporters under the blazing sun, state BJP president and MLA B Y Vijayendra called upon party cadres to stand together and defend their own — especially when Hindu workers face disrespect or difficulty.
“This is not a time for compromise politics,” Vijayendra declared. “We must move beyond seasonal election campaigns and embrace constant political action.”
With Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge’s home turf as the backdrop, Vijayendra directly challenged the ruling party and its local leadership. In a veiled jab at minister Priyank Kharge, he said, “Let’s see if the Congress has any real men left. Our workers are not afraid of anyone. We are ready to take on any challenge.”
He called on district BJP presidents and office-bearers to prepare for a sustained political battle over the next three years. “We must ensure BJP’s victory in every Assembly seat of Kalaburagi,” he asserted.
Thanking the crowd for their overwhelming participation despite the intense heat, Vijayendra said the love and commitment of the workers is invaluable. “Don’t lose heart — your Vijayendra is with you, every step of the way,” he reassured them.
Highlighting the reasons behind the Janakrosh Yatra, Vijayendra accused chief minister Siddaramaiah of failing to deliver on his pre-election promises of ushering in ‘Ram Rajya’. He criticized the Congress government’s last-minute release of guarantee scheme funds just before the Lok Sabha voting, calling it a manipulative tactic.
He accused the CM of treating citizens like beggars by offering free bus rides while simultaneously stalling rural transport services, which he claimed has disrupted the education of children from farming families.
“The government owes Rs 6,500 crore to KSRTC but has failed to release funds. Electricity tariffs have gone up by 36 paise per unit — is this how a welfare government operates?” he questioned.
Slamming Priyank Kharge’s job generation claims, Vijayendra alleged that Rs 4 crore of public funds was used to create just 1,200 private-sector jobs. “This is the work culture of this government,” he said.
Legislative Council opposition leader Chalavadi Narayanaswamy added fuel to the fire, alleging that Kalaburagi is being run like a separate entity. “Why does this region alone enjoy zero-traffic protocols? Is this the Republic of Kalaburagi?” he asked.
He further alleged rampant illegal sand mining in Chittapur — Minister Priyank Kharge’s constituency — claiming that hundreds of truckloads of sand are smuggled daily to Maharashtra under the guise of rural development, generating crores in black money.
“Where is this money going? To Delhi Congress? To CM Siddaramaiah? Or into the pockets of local ministers?” he questioned.
Several BJP heavyweights, including former minister B Sriramulu, council chief whip N Ravikumar, MLAs Avinash Jadhav and Basavaraj Mattimood, former MP Umesh Jadhav, and MLCs B G Patil and Sunil Valyapure, attended the event, reinforcing the party's commitment to challenging Congress dominance in the region.