Paid padayatra, Congress president BK Hariprasad slams BJP padayatra in state

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, Sep 7, 2026: KPCC president B K Hariprasad has alleged that the BJP’s padayatra in Kalyana Karnataka was not aimed at assessing the drought situation but at projecting and establishing the leadership of “junior Yediyurappa”.

Hariprasad said most of the taluks covered by the padayatra were severely drought-affected and questioned why the BJP had not raised the issue during the recently concluded legislature session.

“If the BJP was genuinely concerned about drought, it could have raised the issue in the legislature instead of taking out a padayatra,” he said, calling the march a “paid yatra, like paid news”.

He also alleged that confusion over leadership within the BJP had kept several leaders away from the padayatra, which he claimed was now being used to project new leadership.

On the BJP’s allegations of corruption against the Congress government, Hariprasad said the BJP had no moral right to raise the issue, alleging that the party itself was facing corruption charges.

Responding to criticism of Chief Minister D K Shivakumar’s aerial survey of drought-hit areas, Hariprasad said there was nothing wrong with the exercise. He noted that 101 taluks had already been declared drought-hit and said the survey was intended to reinforce the assessment.

He added that ministers had been directed to visit districts and taluks and assess the drought situation personally.

On the Cabinet meeting scheduled in Mangaluru on September 18, Hariprasad urged the government to implement the development promises made in the Congress election manifesto.

Reacting to Congress MLA Pradeep Eshwar’s statement that Siddaramaiah would be the next Chief Minister, Hariprasad said it was the MLA’s personal opinion and did not represent the party’s view.