By IANS,
Bangalore : The first-ever BJP government in Karnataka will implement its poll promises in a phased manner after winning the trust vote June 6 in the state assembly.
Addressing his maiden press conference at the state secretariat Friday, Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa said his government had decided to convene a three-day assembly session June 4 to swear in the new legislators, elect a speaker June 5 and move a confidence motion June 6 to prove the BJP has majority support.
“At an informal meeting of the cabinet after the swearing in ceremony, we decided not to make any policy announcement till we win the trust vote. We are committed to fulfil the promises made in the party manifesto during the recent election,” Yeddyurappa told reporters.
Official sources said the “no-policy decision” was taken by the cabinet ostensibly in the wake of Governor Rameshwar Thakur directing the new government to first demonstrate it enjoyed the confidence of the lower house within eight days after taking oath.
“The new government will be guided by the party manifesto and we pledge to make Karnataka a model state. We stand by the promises made in the manifesto. They will be reflected in the policies and programmes to be framed and launched after the trust vote,” a beaming Yeddyurappa pointed out.
Among the major promises are: supply of rice at Rs.2 per kg to poor families having green colour ration cards; crop loans to farmers at 3 percent interest; and Rs.2 per litre milk subsidy to dairy producers, especially women.
Weavers, fishermen and artisans will also be provided bank loans at 3 percent interest.
Free power will be supplied to 1.6 million farmers, using irrigation pump sets up to 10HP (horse power).
In the case of women, free education to girls up to degree class, seed capital of Rs.10,000 and loans at 6 percent interest for women self-help groups and Rs.1,000 assistance to women for each delivery at state-run hospitals.
The BJP won 110 seats in this month’s assembly elections. It secured the support of all six independent legislators to cross the halfway mark (113) in the 225-member houses.
The party has made five of the six independents ministers in the 30-member cabinet that includes the chief minister.
Under the 91st constitutional amendment, the government is entitled to have 15 percent of the house strength as ministers.
“Let there be no doubt in anybody’s mind about the stability of my government as we enjoy clear majority. Development of the state is the only agenda of my government. My government will also give no room for vindictive acts and will adopt consensus approach to all progressive measures,” Yeddyurappa said.
Highlighting the vision of the new government, the chief minister said the Vision 2020 of former president A.P.J. Abdul Kalam would be basis of development to ensure uniform growth in rural as well as urban areas.
“In the case of Bangalore, which has emerged as India’s IT hub, we are committed to improve its infrastructure by completing the pending projects and taking up new schemes to provide basic/civic amenities to its six million citizens,” Yeddyurappa said.