From Our Special Correspondent

Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, Feb 3: KPCC president D K Shivakumar, who arrived in Kolar district on the second leg of the Prajadhwani Yatra, on Friday claimed that the Basavaraj Bommai-led BJP rule in the State is numbered and the government will not last beyond 50 days and expressed confidence that the Congress party will definitely win 136 seats to come to power.

"We have already toured the entire State. The Prajadhwani Yatra has already covered the entire State, except the districts of Ramanagara and Bidar. Our party has conducted its own internal surveys in all the 224 assembly constituencies twice or thrice already,’’ he said predicting that ``the party is confident of winning 136 seats.’’

Shivakumar said the people of Karnataka are fed up with the corrupt BJP government, which has completely failed in solving the problems of the people or tackling inflation, price rise and unemployment problems. The Congress yatra has received tremendous response from the people in all districts, including Hassan and Mandya where the party does not have its own MLAs.

"While I am starting the yatra from visiting the Vinayaka temple at Koodumalae in Mulbagal in Kolar district, Siddaramaiah is starting from Bidar from the land of Basavanna,’’ he said pointing out they will continue their separate yatras and will be attending the legislature session in turn so that one of them will be in the house.

Speaking to media persons, he said the party has completed its deliberations on the Election Committee on the selection of candidates without any problems. "The names will be forwarded to the Central Screening Committee and will be finalised at the Election Committee meeting chaired by AICC president Mallikarjuna Kharge,’’ he said.

The KPCC chief refuted speculation that former deputy chief minister Dr G
Parameshwara was unhappy with the manifesto committee constitution and described the former KPCC president as a ‘’big asset to the party.’’

AICC general secretary and State party in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala has already discussed with Dr Parameshwara on the broad contours of the party manifesto and mentioned that the party will pay special attention to Bengaluru, he said.

Shivakumar admitted that the Congress party’s 2 major Guarantee promises of providing 200 units of free power to all domestic consumers every month and Rs 2,000 to each housewife per month will cost and may prove a burden on the exchequer.

"But we have been in power in the past and Siddaramaiah has a record of presenting 13 budgets. We know how to mobilise resources and implement our promises. It is our promise to provide a good and responsive government after the BJP is voted out of power in 50 days,’’ he declared.

Shivakumar said the Congress government headed by Siddaramaiah had launched the Anna Bhagya scheme to distribute 7 kgs of free rice per month. The BJP government brought it down to 5 kgs. But after coming to power, the Congress government will increase its 10 kgs per month, he promised.

The KPCC chief was accompanied by Dr Parameshwara, KPCC Working presidents B Ramalinga Reddy, Saleem Ahmed, MP Dr G C Chandrashekar, AICC secretary Abhishek Dutt, former union minister K H Muniyappa and other leaders.