Striking a populist chord ahead of the Karnataka assembly polls, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) today promised farmers of the state free power supply for irrigation pump sets and farm credit from nationalised banks at 4% interest if voted to power.After a meeting with senior party leaders here, BJP state unit leader and former Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa announced that these assurances will be honoured within 24 hours of assuming office if the party came to power. Yeddyurappa, whose government collapsed last November after an abrupt withdrawal of support by the JD(S), leading to imposition of President's rule in the state, said the BJP, if elected to power, would reimburse the remaining part of the interest on loans borrowed by farmers from nationalised banks to ensure them credit at four per cent interest.Yeddyurappa said all those who own irrigation pump sets up to 10 horse-power capacity would get free power supply. The BJP has decided to stage protest in all 244 assembly constituencies on January 21 against 'tardy implementation' of development works outlined in the budget.
