Bangalore: Bangalore South MP & BJP National General Secretary Ananth Kumar today said that the party will release the first list of candidates for the forthcoming Parliamentary polls in the next one week.
Addressing a convention of the BJP party workers of Bangalore North here, Ananth Kumar said, “There have been plenty of speculations about the party’s MP candidates’ list. I want to make it clear here today that we have not finalized the list yet. The list will be finalized on February 11 in New Delhi at a special meeting, which will be attended by all senior leaders of the party, including our Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modiji. The first list of candidates will be announced in a week’s time,” he added.
The BJP would be issuing tickets to candidates, who were capable of winning the Parliamentary polls. “Modiji has set us a target of 272+ seats for victory in the Parliamentary polls. Unless we cross this mark, the BJP will not be in a position to form the government on its own and elect Modiji as the PM. We have this objective before us today to install the BJP government at the Centre,” he stated.
He called upon the BJP party workers to ensure that the BJP won at least 20 seats from Karnataka. “If we win 20+ seats in Karnataka, we will win 26 seats in Gujarat and in Uttar Pradesh BJP will emerge as the single largest party. Nobody can stop us from forming government at the Centre,” Ananth Kumar added.
If the BJP came to power, the infrastructure of Bangalore would be developed on a priority basis he said and added that the Bangalore Metro Rail network would be expanded to the periphery of the city. “The Congress has been striving to convert Bangalore into another Singapore. But we have been experiencing problems every day in the city. Let the BJP come to power in the Centre and see how Bangalore will transform. The party will ensure that the Bangalore Metro Rail will be connected even to the Kempe Gowda International Airport,” he said.
Holding Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Finance Minister P Chidambaram responsible for the economic slowdown and rise in inflation in the nation, Ananth Kumar said Modiji had long-term plans to revive the sluggish economy. “Today, prices of essential commodities have hit the roof. People are suffering because of inflation. The BJP assures people of Karnataka that if they elect the party to power at the Centre, the prices of essential commodities will be brought down to affordable level,” he said.
Ananth Kumar said crime rate had increased in Karnataka after the Congress assumed power. “When the BJP was in power, particularly when our leader R Ashoka was the Home Minister, the crime rate was under control. See what has happened now. The Congress is least bother about ensuring security, particularly that of women,” he said.
Former deputy CM R Ashoka, former minister Katta Subrahmanya Naidu and Dasarahall MLA Muniraju were present on the occasion.
