Bagalkot (Karnataka), April 7 (IANS) BJP candidate for Bagalkot Assembly segment, Veeranna Charantimath, has said that the party is receiving a better-than-expected response in both rural and urban areas.

Speaking to the media on Tuesday here, he said that during the campaign it has become clear that there is a need for leadership that speaks strongly for the people.

He appealed to voters to cast their votes against what he termed a “Tughlaq government.”

He alleged that justice has not been delivered to flood-affected victims and that corruption has gone beyond limits.

“When we were in power, we distributed land titles to 2,100 people. In the last three years, not even a single title has been given,” he claimed, adding that development schemes have been moving at a slow pace.

He further alleged that even after paying Rs 2.5 crore to Rs 3 crore, people are not able to get land. “They make irresponsible statements. They claim they will give Rs 30 lakh or Rs 40 lakh,” he said, criticising the government.

He accused the ruling party of making promises such as a medical college and Gandhi Bhavan merely as election gimmicks.

The Congress has fielded Umesh Meti against former MLA Charantimath. Umesh Meti is son of late H.Y. Meti, whose death has necessitated the bye-elections.

BJP Legislative Council member P.H. Pujar has criticised the state government, alleging that it is limited to making speeches and is not allocating sufficient funds for irrigation.

He claimed that even the CM’s Economic Advisor Basavaraj Rayareddy has remarked that the government seems to have forgotten the Krishna Upper Canal project.

He pointed out that although there were promises to allocate higher funds in the budget, only Rs 2,600 crore has been earmarked.

Expressing concern, he said that at this pace of funding, it could take 20–25 years to complete the project. He added that it has been three years since the government came to power, but there has been little progress, leading to public disappointment.

Pujar further claimed that there is a strong wave in favour of the BJP across the constituency and expressed confidence that voters will not be swayed by money or liquor.

–IANS

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