Opposition leaders slam Bommai’s budget, BJP rejects criticism

BENGALURU: Soon after Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai presented the Budget 2023-24 in the Assemby on Friday, Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president D K Shivakumar criticised it, saying that the double engine government has not worked for the people.

DK Shivakumar, KPCC President.

“The state budget presented by Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai is the last one that the BJP  has presented in South India. This is a weak budget. The BJP in the state will not come back to power after the Assembly elections as there has been no development work. They have not fully implemented the previous budget itself and there are no self-employment schemes in the present budget”,he said.

UT Khader, a Congress leader.

Another Congress leader, U T Khader, said, “The state budget presented by Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai is not useful to the people. We call this budget a ‘flower on the ear’ as the ruling party is fooling people. Even those schemes announced in the previous budget have not been implemented. Now, people have an idea of the government that they have to choose right in the upcoming elections”.

Janata Dal (Secular) leader and former Chief Minister  H D Kumaraswamy said the pre-election budget presented by Basavaraj Bommai does not hold much promise.

H D Kumaraswamy, former Chief Minister.

“The Assembly elections will be held in May. I have visited 70 Assembly constituencies so far, and it is quite clear that the BJP will not win the elections. I expected that the budget will have something to woo voters, but there was nothing. We will have to wait for some more time till there is a change of guard”, he added.

Defending the budget, senior BJP leaders said that the government is committed to the welfare of people from all sections of society.

Senior leader and former Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa

“Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai has presented a budget with a long-term vision. Several measures have been taken in this budget to double the income of farmers. Many schemes have been proposed for the development of the poor, weaker sections, women and youth of the state. The state will be one of the most popular investment destinations in the country. After the Covid-19 pandemic, the state has presented a surplus budget. We will win the elections, and we will implement all the schemes”, said B S Yediyurappa, former Chief Minister of Karnataka.

Dr K Sudhakar, Minister for Health & Family Welfare and Medical Education

“The CM has presented a good budget and a surplus one. Everyone expected this budget to benefit the upcoming elections. This budget has given special importance to women and students. The budget has given importance to the health and education sectors. The Congress leaders disrespected the CM by wearing flowers on their ears”, said Dr K Sudhakar, Minister for Health and Family Welfare and Medical Education.

Dr C N Ashwath Narayan, Minister for Higher Education

“The Congress leaders wanted attention, but they did not know what they had to do and became laughing stocks by wearing flowers on their ears. We are building party offices in all the taluks and districts. Our government is pro-people, and after the elections we will get to know the real truth”, said Dr C N Ashwath Narayan, Minister for Higher Education.

BJP national general secretary CT Ravi.

“The Congress leaders should permanently wear marigold flowers everywhere they go, as the BJP will win the elections again. The lotus will bloom in Karnataka again. They have indirectly accepted that the BJP will win the upcoming elections”, remarked BJP national general secretary C T Ravi.