Mysuru : BJP state unit president B S Yeddyurappa, on Monday, said, the party was aiming to win at least 150 Assembly segments in the next elections.

Addressing party workers at a private hotel, here, he said, the party would announce the candidates six months prior to the elections and tickets would be issued to those who have gained popularity among the people. He asked the representatives of local bodies from the party to work for the people and also for the party.

Lamenting that the party had failed to win even a single Assembly seat from Mysuru, Mandya, Hassan and Chamarajanagar districts in the last Assembly elections in 2013, he urged the party workers to be united to bring the party to power in the upcoming Assembly polls.

Asking the party workers to take minority people into confidence, he said, 150 minority communities leaders had joined the party in Bengaluru recently.

“The BJP would have won the recent South Graduates constituency MLC elections, if the party workers had worked unitedly. I had promised BJP national unit president Amit Shah of victory in three constituencies, but failed,” he said.

Pointing at the percentage of votes cast in Mysuru city, Yedyurappa said, party workers have failed to convince the voters to come out and vote. The percentage is very less in Mysuru city, compared to rural areas and other districts — Hassan, Mandya and Chamarajanagar, he said.

Yeddyurappa said, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has failed to appoint a Lokayukta and was trying to weaken the institution by establishing Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB).

“Sand mafia has grown strong in the State after the Congress came to power and ministers are involved in the illegal activity. PWD Minister Dr H C Mahadevappa should have resigned by now,” he said.

Yeddyurappa said, the Congress government was not ready to accept the report of former Wakf Board chairman Anwar Manappadi on encroachment and selling of Wakf Board properties.

BJP leader Go Madhusudhan said, the Congress was a divided house. “CM Siddaramaiah has neglected original Congressmen and he has no faith that he could win any election from his home constituency, Varuna. The BJP has chances to win in 10 Assembly constituencies in Mysuru region comprising Hassan, Mandya, and Chamarajanagar districts.

Anil Thomas, who was Congress party city unit general secretary, joined the BJP. Former minister S A Ramdas, Deputy Mayor Vanita Prasanna, BJP city unit president Dr H Manjunath, rural unit president M Shivanna and Mallikarjunappa were present.