K’taka CM Siddaramaiah clarifies no decision yet on controversial 4% Muslim quota
Siddaramaiah’s clarification came following accusations by the saffron party that the Congress is engaging in "Muslim appeasement".
“I always had the blessings of God,” said Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah as voting went underway in Karnataka on 12 May. He was reacting to a question on whether he will get the grace of God this time.
The Congress leader, who is contesting from two constituencies – Chamundeshwari and Badami – expressed confidence that his party will win with a clear majority and rejected any possibility of a hung assembly.
Congress faces a double threat from Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Janata Dal (Secular) in the three-way contest which will give a clear insight into the political future of the two national parties.
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“Congress will get the clear majority. No doubt. We are very, very confident,” the 69-year-old Siddaramaiah told reporters in Varuna.
Reacting to BJP CM candidate BS Yeddyurappa’s assertion of winning on clear majority and form the government in the state, Siddaramaiah said that the Lingayat strongman is “mentally disturbed”.
“That (Yeddyurappa’s claim) is why he is mentally disturbed. He won’t get more than 65 seats,” he said.
He also claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s speeches during the husting and his visit to Pashupatinath temple in Nepal today will have no impact on voters of Karnataka.
“Modi’s speech was hollow speech,” he said.
Stating that the BJP is falsely accusing the Congress of using money and muscle power in the elections, he alleged that it is the BJP which is involved in such activities.
Siddaramaiah won two terms from Varuna, located in Mysuru district, before he left the seat for his son Yathindra and opting for his former stronghold, Chamundeshwari. The CM, later, also decided to contest from Badami.
While he faces sitting JD(S) MLA GT Deve Gowda in Chamundeshwari and BJP’s Gopala Rao, he is up against BJP’s B Sriramulu, a close aide of the Reddy brothers, in Badami.
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