BJP President Nadda tries to woo SCs, STs at Ballari rally; hits out at Congress

BJP chief JP Nadda has said that the BJP-led Narendra Modi government has not only given representation to the SC and ST communities but also prioritised their welfare through several schemes.

Hitting out at Congress, Nadda, who was speaking in Ballari, said Congress had "used the SC and ST communities only as vote banks". Appointment of Droupadi Murmu as the President of India was reflective of BJP's mindset, he said.

Karnataka chief minister Basavaraj Bommai urged voters at the ST rally to support BJP in the forthcoming assembly elections "as the party has worked for their welfare" and reject Congress "as it has never kept its promises".


Bommai cited the recent decision to increase reservation for SCs and STs in educational institutions and government jobs, adding his government has set aside ₹28,000 crore for their welfare and another ₹6,000 crore for the department set up to take care of them.

Bommai attacked senior Congress leader Sonia Gandhi who, he said, won from Ballari Lok Sabha seat once "promising a ₹3,000 crore package, but did not give the district even a package of ₹3 or expressed her gratitude to voters".

The CM asked Congress leaders to see which way the wind was blowing. He said Congress leader Siddaramaiah worked for his own progress while making generous promises to SCs, STs and OBCs.

BJP parliamentary board member BS Yediyurappa said there were 10 seats in the undivided Bellary, but the party had won only five. He urged voters to vote for the party in all 10 seats.