National president Nabin asks BJP State unit not to be complacent while citing T.N. example of Opposition not benefitting from DMK’s failure

Sending out a stern message of caution to the BJP Karnataka unit in his maiden visit to the State, party national president Nitin Nabin on Sunday asked leaders to learn from the outcome of the Tamil Nadu elections where the Opposition AIDMK could not win despite the anti-incumbency faced by the ruling DMK, and asked the State unit to desist from being complacent.

“The Congress government in Karnataka has failed on all fronts and lost the trust of people. Though it came to power by promising to fight corruption, several of its Ministers are accused of indulging in scandals and even the Chief Minister himself faces corruption charges. But the failure of the Congress government alone will not help the BJP return to power,” Mr. Nabin told a closed-door meeting of party legislators and prominent leaders in Bengaluru.

Briefing presspersons after the meeting, C.T. Ravi, MLC, said Mr. Nabin had made it clear that the State unit had to project itself as a suitable alternative political force that can respond to the aspirations of people in a bid to return to power.

“Do not be under the illusion that you will come to power in the next elections merely because the Congress government has failed. Such a thing did not happen in Tamil Nadu where the failure of the DMK was visible and the AIADMK was expected to benefit from anti-incumbency. But the TVK managed to benefit,” Mr. Nabin said, according to Mr. Ravi.

He said the national president had tried to drive home a point that the party had to take up campaigns and create public awareness against the “failures and misrule” of the Congress and also, in the process, instill confidence among people that it is a strong political alternative.

The national president had suggested that the State unit prepare a chargesheet with respect to the failures of the Congress government in each Assembly constituency and draw up a campaign plan. Observing that the Karnataka unit had a strong organisation in the entire country, Mr. Nabin had stated that people themselves would help it to come to power if the party takes up constant and intensive pro-people struggle.

He said Mr. Nabin had asked the party to prepare an action plan for winning various elections including bypolls to Assembly, biennial elections to the Legislative Council, and the GBA polls.

He also asked the party leaders to focus on protecting the interests of the party and people rather than individuals, Mr. Ravi said. He further advised the party to work towards protecting the pride of Karnataka as well as the country.

Nabin accuses Congress of using government in Karnataka as ATM to run its ‘Delhi Darbar’

Lashing out at the Congress government in Karnataka in his maiden visit to the State, BJP national president Nitin Nabin on Sunday alleged that the Congress was using its government as an ATM to fund the activities of its national unit.

“The Congress is using its government here as an ATM to help run its Delhi Darbar,” Mr. Nabin alleged while speaking to presspersons after holding a meeting with party legislators and prominent leaders at the party office here.

“In the last three years, the Congress government in Karnataka has cheated the people and misused their trust. Because of their internal tussle, the works related to people’s welfare have not taken off,” he alleged.