From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, Dec 31: Chief minister B S Yediyurappa on Thursday claimed that the BJP backed candidates have secured a majority of seats in 60% of gram panchayats in the state.

“According to information available, out of 5,728 GPs, BJP backed candidates have won in a majority in around 3,800 GPs,” the chief minister said.

Addressing a media conference in Bengaluru, he said the BJP was strengthening its base across the country, including Karnataka. “More than 60% BJP candidates have won in GP selections and created history,’’ he asserted.

Elections were held to GPs in two phases on December 22 and 27 and more than 80% of voters cast their votes. Elections to the grama panchayats, the lowest rung in the local self-government, is held on non-party lines.

The chief minister said the face of Bengaluru City would be changed in the next year by undertaking development works.

Execution of important infrastructure works would be commenced in full swing in the next few months, he said.

Many tourism programmes too have been planned out to revive the tourism sector in the state, he said.

Referring to the new farm laws, he said amendments to the APMC Act and the Land Reforms Act were made for doubling the farmers’ income by 2020 as envisaged by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The opposition leaders were misleading farmers and posing obstacles to development. “These new laws will lead Karnataka in the path of development,” he claimed.

“There is a dire need to reform certain old Acts and laws to compete with developed nations like the US and China and succeed. Therefore, Modi has taken steps to reform such laws”, Yediyurappa said.