Mysuru: On a thanksgiving visit to Nanjangud and Gundlupet, state BJP president B.S. Yeddyurappa on Monday alleged that government officers were roped in by the ruling Congress to distribute money to voters during the recent bypolls in these two constituencies.

He told the media here: “We have documents to prove that government officers distributed money. We are accumulating more evidence. It is shocking that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and 20 of his cabinet colleagues camped for ten days to win by elections but have not found time to visit drought hit areas. The state government has failed to provide succor in drought-hit areas. I will start my tour of drought affected places in two or three days. The strength of BJP has increased in the region. We failed to tell people about policies and programmes of the Union government. We also failed to communicate about failures of the state government. I will tour every district and tell people about the present government’s failures. I will prepare a chargesheet against the state government after touring the state”

Mr Yeddyurappa said “More leaders from other parties will join the BJP in coming days. The list of BJP candidates for 2018 elections will be announced shortly after discussions with Mr Amit Shah. He will tour the state for three days in August. I have taken it as a challenge to ensure victory of 150 seats during 2018 Assembly elections.”.

In Gundlupet, Mr Yeddyurappa said Mr Niranjan Kumar, who unsuccessfully contested the bypoll on BJP ticket, will win by a margin of 10,000 in next year’s elections. “Mr Siddaramaiah made a big issue about me giving money to the family of a farmer who committed suicide (A FIR has been registered against Mr B S Yeddyurappa). The JD (S) and Congress formed an alliance and conspired to ensure that a BJP candidate does not won here. We will release the manifesto one month in advance,” he added.

Int Nanjangud, Mr Yeddyurappa said: “This is also a meeting to introspect. I have not seen so many irregularities during elections during my 50 year career in politics. When farmers are struggling to cope with drought, Mr Siddaramaiah goes to Janardhan Hotel to have masala dosa. He should be ashamed”.