Press Statement by
Shri Lal Krishna Advani
Leader of the Opposition, Lok Sabha

At Hubli

The electorate in Karnataka will cast its votes in the third and final round of polling for the Vidhan Sabha on May 22. Yesterday I completed my scheduled meetings for the election campaign in the state with a rally in Hubli. As I prepare to return to New Delhi, it is my duty to thank the people of Karnataka for their magnificent response to my Party’s election campaign.

My travels across Karnataka during the election campaign have convinced me that the state has suffered badly because of a huge gap between its potential for development and the persistent reality of the lack of good governance. This gap manifests itself in many ways: regional imbalance as seen in the neglect of socio-economic progress of northern and eastern parts of Karnataka; chronic scarcities of water and power; the growing plight of kisans; lack of employment opportunities for the youth; and, in a worrying trend seen in recent years, the spread of terrorist and naxal outfits in the state.

Only a strong government with vision and commitment can address these problems. The BJP alone can provide such a government. Any other outcome will mean five more years of regression for Karnataka.

However, going by the assessments by several independent pollsters and media organizations, and also by our own internal assessment, the BJP has been an undisputed frontrunner in the first and second rounds of polling. My appeal to voters in the third round of polling is to further reinforce this trend and ensure that the BJP gets a clear and decisive mandate to form the government in Karnataka.

I am confident that a new chapter will begin in the political history of Karnataka when the counting of votes takes place on May 25, declaring the BJP to be the winner and paving the way for the installation of a government headed by Shri B.S. Yeddyurappa. Both the politics of opportunism of the Congress party and the politics of betrayal of the Janata Dal (S) will have been given a befitting rebuff.

The victory of my party in Karnataka will also be a turning point in national politics. It will ensure the exit of the Congress-led UPA government at the Centre whenever the parliamentary elections are held, which have to take place within a year in any case.

With a BJP government in Bangalore and a BJP-led government in New Delhi, Karnataka will make unprecedented progress on all fronts in the coming years. This is our solemn promise.

Specifically, let me assure the people of Karnataka that, if the BJP gets the mandate in Bangalore and in New Delhi, we shall revive the river-linking scheme in right earnest. This will be part of a comprehensive plan for augmentation, conservation and de-pollution of our water resources in order to meet the drinking water needs of our growing population, as well as the water requirements for agriculture and industry.