Shivamogga: Former minister and senior BJP leader Haratalu Halappa on Wednesday said that BJP state president BY Vijayendra should become the chief minister of Karnataka and the fifth one from Shivamogga district. Stating that four leaders from the district have served as CMs so far, he said he is confident that Vijayendra will become the fifth.He was speaking at the valedictory of a marathon and walkathon organised by the BJP Mandal at Hosanagara. The event was hosted as part of the party’s Sewa Sankalpa Abhiyan-2026.Recalling the governance of former CM BS Yediyurappa, Halappa said during his tenure, numerous welfare schemes were introduced for the development of farmers, Dalits, the oppressed, and backward classes. He highlighted that Yediyurappa was the pioneer in presenting a separate budget for farmers and played a historic role in providing agricultural loans at a 3% interest rate in the country.Speaking at the event, Vijayendra accused the Congress govt of failing to provide adequate relief to farmers facing drought conditions. He criticised the administration, stating that announcing a meager Rs 2,500 compensation to farming families feels like giving charity. The BJP had demanded agricultural loan waivers of up to ₹5 lakh and a relief of Rs 50,000 per hectare, but the govt ignored these demands while failing to provide proper power supply to farmers. He contrasted this with the previous BJP administration under Yediyurappa, which provided Rs 5 lakh in housing relief to calamity victims.Highlighting severe financial distress, Vijayendra claimed the state treasury is empty, noting a situation where KSRTC buses lack even the funds to buy diesel. Following CM DK Shivakumar’s announcement of Rs 34,000 crore worth of projects in Mangaluru, the finance department warned against issuing new unbudgeted freebie announcements. He reiterated that the state has no funds to compensate farmers during droughts. The BJP leader pointed out that the govt has failed to honor its promise to fill 2.5 lakh vacant govt posts, turning a deaf ear to youths protesting for employment opportunities, asserting that the current administration is inherently anti-poor, anti-farmer, anti-youth, and anti-women.
