Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has said the BJP will be routed in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections as the ‘illusions’ created by Prime Minister Narendra Modi have completely vanished.
Speaking to reporters on his arrival at the Mysuru airport on Tuesday, Mr. Siddaramaiah said the BJP leaders themselves were speaking against the policies of the Centre and cited the example of former Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha publicly expressing concern over the country’s economy.
“You can’t keep the people emotionally tied down for too long. Truth has to come out”, Mr. Siddaramaiah said before adding that the illusions created by the party about Mr. Modi had almost completely disappeared. “People of the country now want a change. However much the BJP tries, the party will not come to power in the next Lok Sabha elections.”
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He said several leaders within the BJP were against Mr. Modi as he was “indulging only in gimmicks.”
Amit Shah’s visit
When his attention was drawn to BJP President Amit Shah’s scheduled visit to Mangaluru, Mr. Siddaramaiah said the BJP leader’s visit to the State will not make any difference to the electoral choice of the people. “The decision of people in Karnataka can’t be changed. They are satisfied with our government. People have liked our schemes. Neither Amit Shah’s gimmicks nor Mr. Modi’s campaign can bring about any change in Karnataka.”
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When his attention was drawn to the debate triggered in political circles by his claim that he would perform the Dasara rituals next year also, Mr. Siddaramaiah said the party had already made it clear that the Congress will fight the elections under his leadership. “I have said that our party will come to power and we will perform the next year’s Dasara puja as well.”
He said the Opposition parties were under an illusion about the outcome of the next Assembly elections in Karnataka. BJP leader B.S. Yeddyurappa was claiming that the party will win 150 seats, but they have realised their strength after their rout in the by-elections to Gundlupet and Nanjangud Assembly constituencies.
Asked whether leaders from different political parties were defecting to the Congress ahead of the elections, Mr. Siddaramaiah said he wishes for polarisation of voters in the party’s favour and not leaders.
With regard to the KSOU imbroglio, the Chief Minister said he will be meeting Human Resource Development Minister Prakash Javdekar during his next visit to New Delhi. “I have already written a letter to him.”
Gauri Lankesh murder case
With regard to investigation in the Gauri Lankesh murder case, Mr. Siddaramaiah said there has been some progress, but said he was unaware about the Special Investigation Team (SIT) having clues about the culprits involved in the murder.