Davanagere, March 31 (NationPress) Former Chief Minister and current member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Central Parliamentary Committee, B. S. Yediyurappa, ramped up his campaign efforts on Tuesday for the upcoming by-election in the Davanagere South Assembly.

At a gathering of party supporters in Aranahalli village, he delivered a pointed critique of the state government under Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.

Yediyurappa described the Chief Minister's actions as a “betrayal and breach of trust,” asserting that the current government is engaged in what he termed “daylight robbery.”

He expressed confidence that the voters of Bagalkot and Davanagere would unite to remove Siddaramaiah from his position in the forthcoming elections.

Addressing concerns regarding the influence of money in elections, Yediyurappa emphasized that candidates who spend excessively must face consequences.

He encouraged party members to rally behind BJP candidate Srinivas Dasakariyappa and work diligently to secure his victory.

The seasoned politician also raised allegations of corruption, stating that funds had been misappropriated to Telangana and that significant amounts were being funneled into Bagalkot and Davanagere to sway voters.

Furthermore, he criticized the Congress administration for abolishing numerous welfare schemes initiated during the BJP's governance.

Despite being 85 years old, Yediyurappa highlighted his dedication by stating he was campaigning actively, even though he might not be able to travel extensively.

He implored party workers to take ownership of the campaign, urging them to act as if they were candidates from the next day onward.

“If you do that, I will remember you until my last breath,” he remarked to the attendees.

Yediyurappa noted widespread dissatisfaction with what he termed the “misrule” of the Congress government, calling on voters to respond by supporting the BJP candidate in the by-election.

In a related statement, former Chief Minister and BJP MP Basavaraj Bommai accused the government of initiating “tax terrorism” following Siddaramaiah's return to office.

While addressing the media, he criticized the administration for significantly raising prices of alcohol, milk, and electricity in its initial budget.

Bommai indicated that taxes had risen across various sectors, including stamp duty and land values, with motor vehicle taxes also increasing.

“In the last three years, this government has imposed new taxes worth ₹60,000 crore on the populace,” he claimed.

He further alleged that the government had accrued nearly ₹5 lakh crore in new loans, labeling Siddaramaiah as a “record borrower.”

“We have never encountered such a corrupt administration,” he asserted.

He claimed that transactions in Bengaluru were often contingent upon bribes and that corruption permeated even the rice provided by the government.

Additionally, he alleged corruption in the procurement of medical supplies for hospitals and within the offices of tahsildars and ministers.

“Corruption has begun from the Chief Minister’s office itself,” he stated, mentioning that transfers had turned into a major “industry” and that the governance structure had collapsed entirely.

Bommai accused the administration of placing a heavy burden of corruption on the citizens, expressing confidence that the public would support the BJP.