Modi ‘magic’ will not work in Karnataka, says Siddaramaiah

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has said that the BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi’s ‘magic’ will not work in Karnataka. He was reacting to a question by presspersons on Mr. Modi’s proposed visit to Karnataka, in Hassan on Tuesday. Mr. Siddaramaiah added that Mr. Modi was not able to make an impact during campaigning for the Assembly elections.

Reacting to BJP leaders’ allegation that the Congress was dividing society on communal lines, he claimed that it was the BJP which was engaged in such an attempt. Answering a question on the former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda’s allegation that the State government neglected the development of Hassan, Mr. Siddaramaiah said that if Hassan was lagging behind, it was Mr. Gowda who should take responsibility. “It is his party which held power in the district for long time,” he said.

‘Bifurcation was needed’

To another question, he said that the creation of a new State by bifurcating Andhra Pradesh was needed. “Andhra Pradesh is a large State. Division of the State was a long-standing demand.” The Centre had taken the decision considering the demand by the people. Later, Mr. Siddaramaiah attended the party workers’ meeting. However, it had to be cut short owing to rainfall.

Party workers had come from across the district for the meeting.

But as B. Shivaram, former Minister and DCC president, began his speech to welcome the Chief Minister, it started pouring. Mr. Siddaramaiah could address the gathering for only a few minutes.