Mandya (Karnataka): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday took a jibe at Congress, saying Congress is dreaming of digging his grave while he is busy dreaming of Karnataka’s development as he pitched for a double-engine government in the poll-bound southern state.

"Congress is busy dreaming of digging Modi's grave, while Modi is building the Bengaluru-Mysuru expressway. Congress leaders who are dreaming of digging Modi's grave do not know that Modi's biggest security shield is the blessings of crores of mothers and sisters of the country," he said after inaugurating a plethora of infrastructure projects here.

The Prime Minister visited the Mandya and Hubballi-Dharwad districts and laid the foundation stones for various projects with an estimated value of Rs16,000 crores. He also inaugurated the Bengaluru-Mysuru Expressway, which is a six-lane road project spanning the Bengaluru-Nidaghatta-Mysuru section of NH-275. The 118 km long project was developed at a total cost of approximately Rs 8,480 crore and is expected to significantly reduce the travel time between Bengaluru and Mysuru from around three hours to approximately 75 minutes.

Modi said his government has tried to serve the poor with full sincerity since its formation in 2014 and constantly tried to reduce difficulties in the life of the poor.

"In 2014, when you voted for me and gave me an opportunity to serve, then a sensitive government was formed in the country which understands the pain and suffering of the poor. After this, the central government of the BJP tried to serve the poor with full sincerity. Constantly tried to reduce the difficulties in the life of the poor," he said.

Emphasising the benefits of a double-engine government, Modi said in the last few years, capital investment of more than Rs 1 lakh crore has been done on the highways in Karnataka. "Infrastructure brings employment, investment, and avenues of income," he said.

Irrigation projects which were pending for decades in the country are being completed at a fast pace, Modi said.

"In this year's budget, the government has announced to provide the Upper Bhadra Project with Rs 5,300 crore, providing a permanent solution to irrigation-related problems in the region," he said.

Modi said the state-of-the-art road infrastructure projects being launched in Karnataka will boost connectivity across the state and strengthen economic growth.

With the projects like Sagarmala and Bharatmala, Karnataka and the country is transforming, he said, adding when the world was struggling with Covid, India increased its infrastructure budget by many times.

"In the last few days, people have been talking about Bengaluru-Mysuru Expressway. The people of India want such a modern and splendid expressway across the country. The expressway fills youth with pride," he said.

Good infrastructure enhances 'Ease of Living' and creates new opportunities for progress, Modi said.

Modi said his government has continuously worked for increasing the income of farmers and the growth in ethanol production is a proof of such endeavours.

“We decided to increase the production of ethanol made from sugarcane. Last year, the sugar mills of the country sold ethanol worth Rs 20,000 crore to the Oil Companies. It has helped in making timely payments to the sugarcane farmers,” he said.

Under PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi, the central govt provides Rs 6,000 and the Karnataka govt adds Rs 4000 to it. This benefits the farmers twice, giving solutions to their problems, Modi said.

Mandya is a district within the Old Mysore Region which consists of eight other districts, including Mysuru, Chamarajanagar, Ramanagara, Bengaluru Rural, Kolar, Chikkaballapur, Tumakuru, and Hassan.

The Old Mysore Region, which has a total of 61 assembly seats, is considered a stronghold for the JDS, while the Congress also holds significant influence in the area.

During the 2018 elections, the BJP performed exceptionally well in the coastal Karnataka and Mumbai-Karnataka regions but did not secure a clear majority in parts of the Old Mysore and Hyderabad-Karnataka regions.

In the 2018 election, the JDS had won all seven assembly constituencies located in the Vokkaliga heartland, which includes Mandya.

However, in 2019, Narayana Gowda, who had previously won the KR Pet constituency on a JDS ticket, defected to the BJP and went on to win the 2019 by-polls, thereby marking the BJP's first-ever victory in the JDS stronghold.

Now, the BJP is trying to win over voters in Mandya by emphasizing their focus on infrastructure development, hoping to gain their support in the upcoming elections.

In 2019, one JDS candidate defected to the BJP, but now, ahead of the elections, the BJP is hoping to attract more winnable candidates from the JDS and Congress to join their party, as they are currently seeking prominent figures to support their campaign, according to NDTV.

(Using UNI inputs)