Speaking in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly and later to reporters, Vijayendra cited Maharashtra’s recent farm‑loan waiver as a model and urged the state government to adopt a similar relief package for its drought‑stricken growers.
He also called for the clearance of pending procurement payments to maize‑suppliers, arguing that delayed settlements are compounding farmers’ financial distress.
Vijayendra pressed for a regular three‑phase power supply to rural areas, warning that unreliable electricity is hampering irrigation; he noted that power could previously be purchased at ₹10‑11 per unit under a government agreement, but current rates have risen to ₹14‑15 per unit, prompting his suggestion that the state should purchase power if necessary to ensure continuity.
The BJP leader claimed that 937 farmers have died by suicide in Karnataka this year following crop losses, including 294 in the Kalaburagi district, underscoring the human toll of the drought.
Referencing the party’s recent ‘Ballari Chalo’ padayatra, Vijayendra said farmers in the Kalyana Karnataka and Kittur Karnataka regions have complained about incomplete irrigation projects and questioned the criteria used by the state government to declare taluks drought‑hit, alleging that some constituencies represented by BJP MLAs were omitted.
He also challenged the financing of the ₹32,000 crore development projects announced by Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar during a recent visit to Mangaluru, noting that the Finance Department has indicated the state lacks resources for new schemes and raising doubts about how the projects will be funded.