Davanagere, April 6 (NationPress) In response to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's recent criticisms of the Central Government, Union Minister for Food, Public Distribution, and Consumer Affairs, Pralhad Joshi, accused the Congress party of attempting to sow discord by framing a narrative around the "North-South states" concerning Lok Sabha constituency delimitation. He launched a direct assault on the Chief Minister during a press conference held in Davanagere.

Joshi firmly dismissed Siddaramaiah's claim that the BJP is seeking to manipulate the delimitation process to favor northern states where the party holds a stronger foothold. He clarified that the increase in the number of voters in each Lok Sabha constituency has risen by 40 to 50 lakh, and the Centre's delimitation efforts are based on population proportions. He indicated that this would likely result in an increase in constituencies across several states, including Karnataka, and labeled the allegations from Rahul Gandhi and Siddaramaiah as unfounded.

Joshi challenged the Congress by asking who was in power during the last delimitation process in 2008, questioning why any errors from that time were not rectified. He alleged that, despite Manmohan Singh being the Prime Minister, key decisions were predominantly influenced by Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi.

He accused Rahul Gandhi of exhibiting arrogance and questioned his right to critique others. Joshi pointed out that previous delimitation exercises in 1952, 1963, 1971, and 2001 were all based on population data.

Joshi stated that the Congress lacks a national viewpoint and is instead trying to foster divisions between North and South India to incite conflict among the populace. He posed a rhetorical question, asking if the Congress does not seek votes from Northern India. He asserted that by invoking regional differences during elections, the party undermines national unity. He claimed that Siddaramaiah’s comments imply that the Congress does not anticipate receiving votes from northern states.

He emphasized that regardless of whether the number of constituencies increases or decreases post-delimitation, it will not impact the BJP, as public trust in the party remains strong. He accused the Congress of making unfounded claims owing to its declining influence nationally.

In reference to Rahul Gandhi, Joshi commented that he tends to travel abroad during election periods instead of connecting with voters, which has contributed to the Congress's diminishing presence in the political landscape.

Concerning cooking gas availability, Joshi noted that India has not faced shortages despite conflicts in the Middle East. He stated, "We have approximately 70 percent stock reserves, and there are no concerns regarding domestic LPG supply." He acknowledged minor issues with auto LPG but insisted that shortages do not exist.

He mentioned that there are 372 auto LPG centers in Karnataka, with 72 being government-operated. The private sector has a greater number and is actively importing auto LPG. He suggested that auto drivers could temporarily switch to petrol if necessary.

Criticizing the state government, Joshi pointed out that the Congress had promised five guarantee schemes but failed to execute any of them effectively. He claimed, "Yuva Nidhi is virtually non-existent, and the rice provided by the Centre is being distributed under the Anna Bhagya scheme."

On Sunday, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah remarked, "I welcome Prime Minister Modi finally addressing the proposed delimitation exercise. This sudden concern for 'reassuring' southern states seems less like statesmanship and more like election-driven messaging, conveniently timed with political calculations in states like Kerala and Tamil Nadu."

He clarified, "The issue has never been about whether the number of Lok Sabha seats in southern states increases. The concern is about how they increase and who benefits disproportionately."

Siddaramaiah highlighted expected increases in constituencies for states dominated by the BJP, noting significant gains for states like Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Bihar, while southern states see relatively smaller increases.

"The numbers are revealing. The five southern states combined gain only 63-66 additional seats, whereas the seven BJP-dominated states gain about 128-131 seats, nearly double," concluded Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.