G. Parameshwara, president of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee, said on Sunday that the Congress would form a government on its own in the State.
He told presspersons here that it was difficult for him to predict the exact number of seats the party would get. Dr. Parameshwara claimed that media surveys had predicted the Congress would come to power. “Our party workers have given a feedback that the people want a change. We will form the government on our own,” he said.
On the reported statements of the former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda and the former Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa that a coalition government would come to power in the State, Mr. Parameshwara quipped:
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“In my view, we will be able to form the government on our own.” Asked how the Congress had managed to persuade rebel candidates to withdraw nomination papers, Mr. Parameshwara said they had been asked to act in the best interests of the party.
“We told the rebels that there will be enough opportunities to accommodate them in the government or party, once the party returns to power,” he said.
Asked whether the campaigning by Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi and BJP leader Varun Gandhi would make any difference to the ruling party’s fortunes, Dr. Parmeshwara said his party was least interested in knowing what the BJP was up to. There was no guarantee that the “Modi magic” would work here. “If Mr. Modi comes here for campaigning, he will have to counter the corruption charges on Mr. Yeddyurappa. He will also have to explain why the BJP split twice in the State. Mr. Modi portrays himself as a great facilitator of development in Gujarat, he should explain why Karnataka has fallen behind in development,” he said.
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On the ambiguity over the former Chief Minister S.M. Krishna’s participation in the election campaign, Dr. Parameshwara said there was some delay as Mr. Krishna had to decide since when he would start campaigning.
“When I met him 15 days ago, Mr. Krishna had agreed to campaign. But some people deliberately started a misinformation campaign saying Mr. Krishna was angry and would not campaign. He will work to bring the party in power,” Dr. Parameshwara added.