PayCM: Bommai says Congress resorting to dirty politics

PTI, Sep 24, 2022, 7:23 PM IST

Image credit: PTI / File

Bengaluru: Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Saturday termed PayCM campaign by the Congress Party as ‘dirty politics’.

“What they (Congress leaders) are doing is nothing but tarnishing names without having any morality. The Congress party is under the illusion of coming to power without having any concern for the people, but only by doing dirty politics. This will not happen in Karnataka as the government will take legal action against it,” Bommai told reporters.

He asked the Congress leaders if they have any issue, they can come and talk to him directly, produce documents and then demand an inquiry.

“But, they come to the House (Karnataka Assembly) without any evidence and proper homework. This shows the sharp decline in the values of Congress leaders,” the Chief Minister said.

To a query that a pre-poll survey gave the BJP 95 to 100 seats in the 2023 Assembly polls, Bommai said every survey would come out with different numbers.

”I know the pulse of people more than anybody else. I have been in politics for almost 35 years and I am confident that BJP will come back to power next year,” he said.

Regarding the Cabinet expansion, Bommai said it would be done after getting the nod from the high command.

On the raids on PFI offices and office-bearers in the State, he said both NIA and Karnataka police have taken suitable action regarding the Popular Front of India’s activities in the State.

Earlier, State Health Minister Dr K Sudhakar alleged that the Congress launched the ‘PayCM’ targeting Bommai because the party cannot tolerate a Chief Minster from the major Lingayat community.

Speaking to reporters in Chitradurga, Sudhakar said, “Whoever gives good governance, especially if there are strong Lingayat chief ministers, they (Congress) drag them out. People of the State are taking note of it.” “Congress has always done that. They always target major community. This is not the first time. They did not spare Kengal Hanumanthaiah, the second chief minister of the State. Whom did they spare? Whoever is the Chief Minister from the major community, this is their constant approach,” the Minister added.

According to him, the Bommai-led Bharatiya Janata Party government is providing a clean administration. In the last 14 months, people believe him as a people’s chief minister. He is giving a good governance, which Congress leaders are not able to tolerate, he charged.

Sudhakar said the PayCM campaign shows the desperation of the Congress to come back to power. The Opposition party has sealed whatever little chances it had in Karnataka.

The Minister recalled how actor Akhil Iyer took objection to the use of his photograph without his permission in the campaign, citing the actor’s tweet where he warned Congress of legal action.

“You would have seen yesterday (Friday), they did the campaign in the name of actor Akhil Iyer. What did he say yesterday? He said without his knowledge or seeking his permission his photo was used. He said he will take legal action. It is obvious how malafide this smear campaign is,” he charged.

Alleging that the PayCM was filled with malafide political intent, Sudhakar sought to know: ”Are these Congress leaders ‘Satya Harishchandra?’ How many of these have returned from jail and how many are out on bail? Aren’t they ashamed of talking politics and corruption? He said the top Congress leaders in Karnataka, who are talking about corruption are out on bail. Sudhakar said the party has no moral right to speak on corruption because it lost power due to maladministration.

The Congress launched the PayCM campaign, putting out posters in public places with a QR code with a visible image of Bommai in the middle. Upon scanning, the QR Code redirects to a website 40percentsarkara.com launched by the Congress 10 days ago.

When the Assembly elections are just eight months away, the party launched the campaign accusing the Bommai government of indulging in corruption.