Event Reporting: INC Guarantees Beneficiaries Convention at Arsikere

On February 24, 2024, Chief Minister Siddaramiah visited Banavara Hobli in the Arsikere constituency
of Hassan for a public engagement. He attended the INC Guarantees beneficiaries convention,
inaugurated the Guru Siddarameshwara Community Hall (Kuruba community Hall), and laid the
foundation stone for several other community halls in the Arsikere constituency. Additionally, he
addressed a large public meeting at the Banavara Hobli of Arsikere constituency.

Events:
1. INC Guarantees beneficiaries convention
2. Inaugurated the Guru Siddarameshwara Community Hall (Kuruba community Hall)
3. laid the foundation stone for several other community halls and development works

Date; 24.02.2024
Venue: Banavara
AC: Arsikere
Crowd Size: 15000
Leaders Present:
1. Siddaramaiah (CM)
2. K. N. Rajanna (District Minister)
3. K. J. George (Minister)
4. K. M. Shivalinge Gowda (MLA, Arsikere)
5. K. S. Anand (MLA, Kadur)
 6. B. Shivaram (Ex Minister)
7. Shreyas M Patel (2023 AE Candidate, Holenarasipur)
8. MA Gopalaswamy (Ex MLC, 2023 AE candidate, Shravanabelagola)
9. Shridhar Gowda (2023 MLA Candidate, Arkalgud)

Speech Pointers:
Siddaramiah (Chief Minister of Karnataka)
1. Siddaramaiah highlighted the importance of the INC Guarantee schemes and called on voters to
support him in his efforts to do more for the poor.
2. He strongly criticized both JD(S) and BJP for their silence on the injustice faced by Karnataka
from the central government in terms of grants and budget allocations.
3. Siddaramaiah condemned JD(S) leader H. D. Kumaraswamy and other JD(S) leaders, labeling
them as pseudo 'sons of the soil' for opposing pro-poor policies and the Yettinahole irrigation
project.
4. The Chief Minister pledged to construct community halls for all communities and provide
housing for all homeless individuals.
5. Siddaramaiah credited INC MLA KM Shivalinge Gowda for the significant development projects
underway in Hassan.
6. He urged all INC leaders to work together, putting aside their differences, to ensure the victory of
the INC candidate.
7. CM Siddaramaiah criticized the Previous BJP government, stating that the 40% commission
government was rejected by the people and expressing confidence that they will be rejected
again. He accused the BJP-JD(S) alliance of doing great injustice to Karnataka.
8. CM Siddaramaiah emphasized that the Karnataka Congress government is providing ₹1500 per
quintal for coconut (copra) farmers.
9. CM Siddaramaiah promised that the Yettinahole irrigation project will be completed within 1 or 2
years.
10. Regarding the Bhadra Project, CM Siddaramaiah stated that although the BJP promised to declare
it a national project and allocate ₹5,300 crores, the state has not received any funds from the
central government. He questioned whether they stand by the people of Karnataka and promised
to try to start the Upper Bhadra irrigation project next year.
11. Responding to former PM H. D. Devegowda's statement, CM Siddaramaiah mentioned that
Devegowda once expressed a wish to be born as a Muslim in his next life but has now joined
hands with the BJP since the Congress came into power.

Activities:
1. CM Siddaramaiah addressed the press conference prior to attending the event.
2. The Chief Minister inaugurated the Guru Siddarameshwara Function Hall.
3. He also launched several development projects and laid the foundation stones for a few other
community halls and a refugee-orphanage center in Arsikere.
4. CM Siddaramaiah Distributed checks, loans, and subsidies to Women Self-Help Groups.
Provided house titles to beneficiaries under Ashraya Mane scheme. Symbolically distributed
Gruhalakshmi checks and Arogya Karnataka checks.
Observations:
1. Kuruba community JD(S) leader Banavara Ashok and others participated in the Community Hall
inauguration.
2. The government program was completely hijacked by INC leaders and highly politicized by the
MLA, CM, and Ministers.
3. CM failed to address ongoing issues of Copra Price, Drought Compensation, and Lake Filling
Projects. Embarrassment arose when the media questioned the lack of budget allocation to
Hassan district.
4. Shortage of chairs resulted in hundreds of attendees standing throughout the program.
5. Press personnel expressed dissatisfaction due to the lack of drinking water facilities provided.
6. Attendees were unhappy with lunch arrangements, leading to wastage and littering at the venue.
7. The majority of attendees belonged to the Kuruba community.
8. Flexes and banners were insufficient, particularly in Banavara town, with fewer JD(S) flags and
INC banners visible.
9. The majority of the Muslim community expressed dissatisfaction as MLA and leaders did not
arrange transportation to Banavara for attending the CM's function.
10. Some women faced difficulties returning home as only small autos and goods vehicles were
arranged for transportation.

Impact:
1. Siddaramaiah's aggressive attacks, sharp criticisms of BJP and JD(S), portraying them as the Anti
Karnataka, coupled with Shivalinge Gowda's pointed criticisms of JD(S), garnered extensive
media attention.
2. The program reached a broad audience through both social and traditional media platforms.
3. The convention had a positive impact on the INC, fostering unity among party factions and
bolstering the morale of party members.
4. Siddaramaiah declared that the INC in Hassan would be led by Minister KN Rajanna and MLA
KM Shivalinge Gowda to solve the confusion and to give specific direction and decision-making
authority.
5. Leaders from various factions, including those loyal to DK Shivakumar such as B Shivaramau,
Sridhar Gowda, Shreyas Patel, MA Gopalaswamy, MLA KS Anand, Granite Rajashekhar, and
those loyal to Siddaramaiah, Baguru Manje Gowda, actively participated and mobilized INC
supporters from their respective constituencies, exhibiting unity and strength in the INC in
Hassan district.
6. The program grabbed the attention of women voters and convinced them of the positive opinion
on INC guarantees.
7. The program is likely to help INC consolidate OBCs behind the party due to efforts sanctioning
significant funds to community halls of the OBCs and Micro OBCs, which will likely benefit
INC.
8. INC is mobilizing and effectively engaging Women Self Help Groups, ASHA, Anganwadi
workers in these functions at large numbers, which may have a positive impact to send a positive
message to the women cohort.
Actionables:
1. HD Kumaraswamy needs to respond to Siddaramaiah's allegations and challenge him to a debate
on Hassan district's development. JD(S) district leaders, under HD Revanna's leadership, should
organize a press conference to address Siddaramaiah's allegations, present facts, and refute his
claims.
2. HD Revanna needs to arrange a press conference in Hassan city on February 25, 2024.
3. Invite MLAs and ex-MLAs from other constituencies to join.
4. Focus on criticizing CM Siddaramaiah's alleged false claims about Hassan's development.
5. Refute allegations against JD(S) leaders during the conference.
6. Highlight the insufficient allocation of funds to Hassan in the 2024-25 Karnataka budget by CM
Siddaramaiah.
7. Point out the absence of funding for ongoing irrigation projects and neglect of issues like the
Wild Elephant Menace.
8. Emphasize Siddaramaiah's ignorance towards copra and coconut farmers affected by drought and
diseases.
9. Expose Siddaramaiah's failure to address these issues in Arsikere, revealing his double standards
on farmers' concerns.