Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Jan 29: "I will conduct a survey on the basis of certain yardsticks including chances of victory of party candidates for fielding candidates from backward classes in the Lok Sabha (LS) election, and submit my report to the top leadership of the party," said state president of BJP Backward Classes Morcha, B G Puttaswamy.

He was addressing a press meet organized here just before the special executive meeting of the district unit of the Morcha at Dakshina Kannada district BJP office here on Monday, January 28.

"In the previous Lok Sabha election, only one ticket was given to backward classes in the state for Lok Sabha election. P C Mohan, the candidate concerned, had registered victory from Bengaluru (central) constituency then. The survey will try to figure out the chances of increasing the representation of the backward classes this time. Winning chances, financial standing, and capacity will decide the chances of the candidates getting party tickets," he explained.

"The party will place before the people the achievements of the central government during the last five years, and approach the voters with the lone agenda of making Narendra Modi the Prime Minister of the country again. We will also publicize about the popular programmes of the union government," Puttaswamy revealed.  

Commenting about the entry of Priyanka into politics, Puttaswamy felt that her foray into the Congress is being unnecessarily hyped. "Her husband, Robert Wadra, already faces corruption cases. If Priyanka gets power, her husband might misuse it," he said.

Puttaswamy stated that the country does not have anyone else who can match Narendra Modi's leadership qualities. He said that Modi contained corruption and brought economic stability to the country. He never indulged in nepotism, and the people want him to continue as the guardian of the country, he stated.

Puttaswamy felt that chief minister, Kumaraswamy, is getting unnecessary publicity on the issue of farmers crop loans. He said that practically it is impossible to write off such a big quantum of loan. He pointed out that the quantum of budget earnings stand at Rs 2,18,000 and borrowings stand at Rs 2,92,000 crore and questioned how can loans be waived by the government to such a large extent. He said that the JD(S), which rose to power by including a number of assurances in its manifesto, is now worried on how to meet the promises.

He said that he has faith on the backward classes which form about 33.6 percent of population in the state. "They are decisive in the election. 12.5 percent of the population belongs to financially strong classes. Lingayats are strong in some districts, with their population forming 15.5 percent of the state's population. Dakshina Kannada district has 27.01 percent who belong to forward classes, 42.32 percent to backward classes and 8.4 percent scheduled castes and tribes. We have planned to draft plans to unite backward classes in all the eight assembly constituencies in the district," he explained.

Puttaswamy termed the Maha Gatbandhan of various parties meant to defeat Narendra Modi as immoral alliance.

Backward Morcha state general secretary, Tippeswamy, vice president, Somashekhar, state secretary, Satyajit Suratkal, and several others were present.