Bengaluru: In an attempt to march ahead of its rivals — the Congress and JD(S) — which are currently engaged in taking out padayatras, the ruling BJP has come up with its own plans for retaining power. BJP has now come up with fresh plans on irrigation projects such as Mekedatu, Mahadayi and Upper Krishna Project and also a hike in reservation for ST community.

The State BJP had sent a proposal in this regard to the Union Government seeking implementation of these projects. Now the Centre is said to have given its nod for the BJP’s plans, with all the said three river projects now in Courts over sharing of water.

With the Assembly polls just a year away, the BJP has been pressing the Union Government to ensure that the suits filed in the Supreme Court are disposed off and the State gets a fair ruling.

This apart, the party has also sought a hike in reservation quota for ST community from the current  3 percent to 7.5 percent. By getting the nod for hike in reservation, the party also hopes to consolidate  the votes of ST community, which has a sizeable population spread across the State. Through this, the BJP expects to consolidate its vote bank in all regions of the State — Old Mysuru region, Coastal Karnataka,  Mumbai Karnataka (now Kittur Karnataka) and Hyderabad Karnataka (now Kalyana Karnataka).