NEW DELHI, APRIL 23: The BJP will package its “good governance” plank with the “great betrayal” to present itself as a “viable alternative” to other parties in Karnataka. The party’s manifesto, to be released on Thursday, will be a “viable good governance charter”, as opposed to the “populist manifesto” already brought out by the Congress.

“Karnataka has not forgotten how our leader B S Yeddyurappa was stabbed in the back by our erstwhile ally. This will be one of the highlights and raised in a big way in rural areas,” said a leader. Price rise and inflation will be a big issue all across the state, especially in urban centres, and another highlight of the manifesto.

The party will also play up the terror theme in the document that it hopes will strike a chord among urban voters. “Karnataka is the new destination for jehadi groups bent on targeting knowledge economy centres. The voters view the BJP as the only alternative committed to eliminating terror,” added the leader.

The state has witnessed a rapid urban expansion in the last few years, but the haphazard growth pattern has done little to better the lives of the burgeoning population in urban centres that the party sees as its “natural constituency”. “The city of Bangalore and its outskirts alone account for 35 seats. So a futuristic development plan for the urban infrastructure will be part of our good governance plan,” said a top BJP leader, overseeing the manifesto preparation exercise.

The manifesto will also include a slew of measures for the rural populace — especially farmers — that Yedyurappa sees as his “personal constituency”. Farmers may be promised credit at three per cent interest from banks and cooperatives. They may also be promised free power supply for irrigation pumpsets.

“The manifesto will be a realistic document that will be implemented in letter and spirit,” added the central leader.