The former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Sunday predicted midterm polls to the State Assembly by the year-end.
Speaking to reporters in Mysuru before setting out on a tour of flood-affected areas, Mr. Siddaramaiah said he had asked Congress workers to prepare themselves for midterm polls which were likely to be held by this year-end. The party was ready not just for the byelections to the 17 constituencies, whose MLAs have been disqualified, but also for a possible midterm polls, he said.
The reason for Mr. Siddaramaiah to foresee fresh elections to the State Assembly in December was the BJP’s reported inability to run the government. “I told party workers in Dakshina Kannada on Saturday that they should be ready for midterm elections in December as the present dispensation does not appear to have the ability to run the government,” he said.
He lashed out at the State government for its “failure” to handle flood-relief works. Criticising the government for the poor compensation given to flood-hit families, Mr. Siddaramaiah said the government should give at least ₹1 lakh to each family instead of ₹10,000.
Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa and other BJP leaders were good only at making speeches. “Flood-hit people have lost everything. Will ₹10,000 be enough?” he questioned.
Later, Mr. Siddaramaiah left Mysuru for a visit to flood-hit areas in T. Narsipur, Varuna, Nanjangud, and H.D. Kote Assembly constituencies.
The former Chief Minister was accompanied by the former MP R. Dhruvanarayan, the former Minister H.C. Mahadevappa, and KPCC Women’s Wing president Pushpa Amarnath, among others.
