Davanagere (Karnataka), April 2 (NationPress) - Karnataka's Chief Minister, Siddaramaiah, expressed on Thursday that the Congress party is garnering support in the by-elections that surpasses expectations. He indicated that the public has come to recognize the “truth” regarding the BJP’s insufficient development efforts and criticized the Central government for its fund allocation. Speaking at the MBA College helipad in Davanagere, he noted that feedback from the Davanagere South Assembly constituency has greatly exceeded predictions.

“The people have realized that the BJP has failed to deliver development over the past four years and has instead exploited the state. Despite the BJP's misleading propaganda, the public has placed their faith in us, as the Congress government's guarantee schemes are being rolled out effectively,” he stated.

He emphasized that, contrary to BJP's claims that these guarantees would be withdrawn after elections, the initiatives have proceeded uninterrupted. “We have earmarked Rs 52,000 crore for these guarantees and have already utilized Rs 1.31 lakh crore,” he revealed.

Addressing accusations of being “debt-ridden”, Siddaramaiah clarified that the state’s borrowing aligns with the limits set by the Fiscal Responsibility Act, keeping debt within 25% of the state's GDP. “Our fiscal deficit stands at 2.95%. We couldn't achieve a revenue surplus because the Centre has withheld the state's rightful allocation of funds,” he mentioned.

He further accused the central government of causing a revenue loss of Rs 10,000 crore to the state due to GST reductions ahead of the Bihar elections. “GST growth has plummeted from 10% to 4%. The Centre has failed to release GST compensation and special grants owed to the state, impacting our revenue surplus,” he added, asserting that BJP state President B.Y. Vijayendra was making statements without grasping these realities.

Responding to allegations of corruption within guarantee schemes, he noted that benefits are directly deposited into beneficiaries' accounts, eliminating opportunities for corruption. He also highlighted that the previous BJP administration had accumulated a debt of Rs 5.3 lakh crore.

On concerns about pending payments to contractors, Siddaramaiah indicated that Rs 29,000 crore in dues were left unpaid during the BJP's governance, of which Rs 24,000 crore has already been settled. “We have provided clear responses with documentation during the Assembly session,” he affirmed.

Regarding rising prices, he stated that controlling inflation is primarily the Central government's duty. “The state's responsibility is limited to distributing fuels like gas, petrol, and diesel supplied by the Centre. Compared to adjacent states, prices in Karnataka are lower,” he added.

On the topic of internal reservations, the Chief Minister reiterated the government’s commitment to its implementation. Responding to BJP assertions that AHINDA votes might shift towards them, he maintained that the BJP does not prioritize the interests of backward and marginalized communities.

“The BJP consistently aligns itself with the affluent. Our government is focused on universal basic income to support the underprivileged. Our guarantee schemes are accessible to all, including BJP supporters, aiming to empower those living below the poverty line,” he stated.

On recruitment, Siddaramaiah revealed plans to fill 56,432 vacancies this year and intends to continue addressing vacant positions in a systematic manner.