Bhatkal: Congress spokesperson and Vice President of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee, Ivan D'Souza, criticized the BJP's campaign tactics in the Lok Sabha elections.

At a press conference held in the Bhatkal Congress office, D'Souza stated that BJP candidates are rallying votes in the name of Modi instead of addressing local developmental issues or proposing solutions for the constituency's problems. He accused the BJP of lacking a developmental plan and attempting to secure electoral victories through casteism and communal tensions. D'Souza emphasized that this approach would no longer yield favorable results for the BJP, as voters have become savvy to these tactics and are increasingly aware of attempts to manipulate them, signaling that the end of such strategies is imminent.

D'Souza, who is also the Coastal Karnataka in-charge for the Lok Sabha Elections, reported that he has been assigned responsibility for the elections across the three coastal districts of Karnataka: Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, and Uttara Kannada. He noted that the election processes in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi have concluded, with the Congress claiming victories in both districts. The focus is now on the upcoming May 7 elections in the Uttara Kannada constituency, where he expressed confidence in securing a win.

He highlighted the strong electoral presence of the Congress, contrasting it with the previous elections where the BJP secured 25 out of 28 seats in Karnataka. He asserted that this time, the Congress is poised to win over 20 seats, attributing the anticipated success to a robust campaign.

Addressing development issues in the Uttara Kannada district, D'Souza criticized the BJP for the lack of progress over the past thirty years, highlighting the absence of significant projects like a medical college or a multi-specialty hospital. He blamed the incumbent BJP MP for failing to bring any developmental projects to the district from the center, which has resulted in a lack of employment opportunities for local youth. D'Souza assured that with the election of Congress candidate Dr. Anjali Nimbalkar, the district would see significant developmental progress.

Furthermore, D'Souza accused the BJP of fostering Hindu-Muslim divisions and exploiting religious sentiments for electoral gains rather than focusing on developmental issues. He emphasized that the time had come to prioritize the district's development over divisive politics.

The conference was attended by Bhatkal Block Congress President Venkatesh Naik, Abbas Taunsey, Rama Moger, Suresh Naik, and other Congress leaders.