Bagalkot (Karnataka), April 4 (IANS) The BJP is afraid of defeat and is spreading false propaganda against the Congress government, said Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.

He was speaking to the media in Bagalkot on Saturday.

The election campaign for the Bagalkot by-election is going well, and we have received an overwhelming response from the people. We are expecting a good victory in both constituencies, he said.

The Congress government’s programmes are designed for the poor. We have given programmes to people of all castes, religions, and languages. The BJP is opposing the guarantee schemes, which are investments providing social commitment and development, he slammed.

Development is not just about roads, bridges, and buildings. It is also about providing economic and social security, the Chief Minister said.

The BJP has been opposing the social schemes since they were announced. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and others have been saying that the state will go bankrupt.

The guarantee schemes have been in place for the past three years, and we have spent Rs 1.31 lakh crore on them till March 24, 2026, he stated.

“We have not reduced expenditure on irrigation, public works, rural development, drinking water, police, and SC/ST schemes. Last year, we spent Rs 42,000 crore, and this year we are spending over Rs 44,000 crore. Development work has not been hampered,” he said.

Siddaramaiah said the BJP’s claim that he has taken excessive loans is false. The Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (FRBM) Act, which was introduced in 2002, sets three criteria for states: fiscal deficit should be within 3 per cent of GDP, debt should be within 25 per cent of GDP, and interest payments should not exceed 25 per cent of revenue receipts.

Our debt is at 24.94 per cent, and we have not exceeded the limits set by the FRBM Act. We have maintained fiscal discipline, the Chief Minister said.

The state’s GDP growth is 8.1per cent, which is better than the central government’s 7.14 per cent. The Congress government has fulfilled 158 of the 165 promises made in its 2013 manifesto. The BJP has not fulfilled even 10 per cent of its promises.

The Congress government has kept its word, and our guarantees have benefited the people. The BJP should tell the people about its achievements instead of criticising us, he said.

The BJP is using MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal, who was expelled from the party, for campaigning. This shows the BJP’s desperation and fear of defeat, Siddaramaiah added.

–IANS

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