Ballari: The BJP ended its 10-day Ballari Chalo padayatra by blowing the poll bugle at the valedictory of the march at Ballari yesterday.

Addressing a huge gathering of party workers and supporters at the Municipal College Grounds in Ballari city, State BJP President B.Y. Vijayendra called upon the party workers to pledge for bringing the NDA Government to power in Karnataka by ousting the Congress party in the 2028 Assembly polls.

“Development has taken a severe hit in the State, with Congress leaders engaged in internal wrangling at a time when the State is severely affected by drought. The administration has collapsed and farmers are in deep distress over failure of monsoon rains and crop loss. As such, the Government should waive off farmer loans and thus come to their rescue,” he urged.

Demanding the Government to release a white paper on utilisation of SCSP-TSP funds, Vijayendra wanted the Congress Government to grant funds for development of all 224 Assembly segments of the State.

Accusing the Chief Minister of completely neglecting North Karnataka region, the State BJP Chief said that CM Shivakumar seems to be only interested in Bidadi Township and Tunnel Road Project in Bengaluru. Charging the Congress Government of indulging in appeasement politics, he called upon the farmers, Dalits, the Backward Classes and all others to elect a pro-Hindu  NDA Government in the State.

Vijayendra said though the padayatra had ended, the BJP’s fight against anti-people policies of Congress Government would continue with the same vigour.

Veteran BJP leader and former Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa said that the 10-day padayatra which commenced from Lingasuguru in Raichur district is prelude to a political change in the State.

Asserting that he would not rest until the BJP is brought back to power, he declared that he would visit any part of the State if the party leaders invite him for organising and strengthening efforts.

Union Minister Pralhad Joshi said that the Congress is not taking up any developmental projects in the State. Alleging that the Guarantee Schemes were not reaching the targeted beneficiaries, Joshi claimed that the State Government, which is facing a severe financial crisis, was finding it difficult to fund the Guarantee Schemes.

BJP General Secretary in-charge for Karnataka Radha Mohan Das Agarwal, Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly R. Ashoka, MP and former CM Basavaraj Bommai, former CM D.V. Sadananda Gowda, MLA G. Janardhan Reddy, former Minister B. Sriramulu, MLCs C.T. Ravi, Chalavadi Narayanaswamy and other top leaders were present.