Bangalore:
Former Karnataka Minister B Sreeramulu today launched his new party, Badavara Shramikara Raitara (BSR) Congress.
Mr Sreeramulu, an independent MLA and close associate of jailed former minister and mining baron G Janardhana Reddy, announced the launch of his party at the culmination of his 921-km 'padyatra' from Bidar to Bangalore to highlight the drought in the state.
In his speech, Mr Sreeramulu asked Karnataka Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda to immediately release Rs 5000 crore to alleviate hardships faced by farmers reeling under drought.
Making a pitch for regional parties, he claimed "national parties like Congress and BJP will be out of favour in future in Karnataka as they don't have nose for local issues."
"Regional parties are popular as they understand local issues and quickly solve them," Mr Sreeramulu said and cited as example the victory achieved by the YSR Congress headed by Jaganmohan Reddy in Andhra Pradesh in the bye-elections.
Addressing a rally after the culmination of his 'padyatra', he also said there was a need "for teaching national parties a lesson as they backstab local leaders after making full use of them."
Mr Sreeramulu said he would take out another 'padyatra' to highlight government's "failure" to tackle people's problems in the state's coastal belt.