Bengaluru: Asserting that the Congress would win anywhere between 18 to 20 seats in the state these elections, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah maintained on Monday there was no sign of the so call Modi wave even in the "Hindutva laboratory" of coastal Karnataka.
Participating in a meet the press programme organised by Bangalore Reporters' Guild and Press Club of Bangalore, Mr Siddaramaiah said while Mr Modi himself was no longer speaking of the "Gujarat model of development," realizing it stood third in industrial development, next to Karnataka and topped in malnutrition of children and school dropouts, BJP leaders were still singing its praises.
Calling the BJP a party of lies, he recalled that during the last few elections, Mr Modi had suppressed the fact that he was married but admitted to it this time.
Far from bolstering the party's chances the return of former CM B.S. Yeddyurappa and Valmiki strongman, B Sreeramulu, would boomerang on the BJP as people had not forgotten their misdeeds, he warned.
While mounting an attack on Mr Modi, the chief minister was cautious in his comments on his former mentor and JD(S) supremo, H.D. Deve Gowda. He even joked that Mr Gowda still loved him.
Asked about two JD(S) candidates withdrawing and supporting the Congress, Mr Siddaramaiah denied the party had resorted to "Operation Hastha," to lure them. “Candidates themselves have lost faith in JD(S) leaders,'' he claimed.
In Chamarajnagar, Siddaramaiah said he will continue to be CM for the next 4 years and two months, and will keep visiting jinxed Chamarajnagar again and again.
