New Delhi: Moving in swiftly to block Karnataka chief minister Siddharamaiah’s attempts to invoke the “Kannada pride” before the high stake elections, the Centre on Tuesday put on hold the state government’s proposal to approve an official flag for the state. Invoking Kannada pride, Mr Siddaramaiah had on Monday asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to approve the state flag.
Mr Modi during an interaction with party’s state leaders last week had said that he was a Kannadiga and wanted to learn the language. Mr Modi, who began campaigning in the state from Tuesday, promised a “Swachchh, Sundar and Surakshit Karnataka”.
“Congratulations to Prime Minister Narendra Modi who has declared himself a Kannadiga. Becoming Kannadiga means accepting Kannada language, naada geete (state anthem), naadadwaja (state flag)," said the Karnataka chief minister. "Will you become true Kannadiga by giving approval to Karnataka's nada dwaja? #AnswerMadiModi," Mr Siddaramaiah tweeted in Kannada.
Despite Mr Siddaramaiah efforts to rake up Kannadiga pride and the Lingayat card, feedback with the saffron leaders suggest that most of the voters are not happy with the Congress government's development track record.
After Mr Siddaramaiah asked the Prime Minister to approve the state flag, the Centre on Tuesday directed that the proposal of the state government be put on hold as the election code of conduct had come into force.
Flagging "Kannadiga pride" ahead of the Assembly polls, Mr Siddaramaiah had unveiled the proposed official state flag for the state in March.
