From Our Special Correspondent

Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, Mar 19: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has taunted Prime Minister Narendra Modi by going to the extent of terming him a ‘’weak PM’’ and asserted that he is a ‘’strong CM" unlike the PM.

Responding to Modi’s criticism at the BJP public meeting in Shivamogga where he deriding the Congress party for having ‘’super CM and shadow CM,’’  Siddaramaiah pointed out that Congress party does not have a super or shadow CM but only one CM while the prime minister is a ‘’weak PM, who could not take action against former BJP deputy chief minister K S Eshwarappa.’’

‘’Modi is a weak PM, who could not take any action against Eshwarappa, who has raised the banner of revolt against denial of BJP ticket to his son Kantesh from Haveri and has openly declared his intention to contest against the BJP strongman B S Yediyurappa’s son and sitting Shivamogga MP B Y Raghavendra,’’ Siddaramaiah said, adding that, Eshwarappa’s defiance and refusal to participate in the rally addressed by Modi in Shivamogga indicates that ‘’Modi is a weak PM.’’

The chief minister reminded the prime minister of his constant boasts that he has a ‘’56” chest’’ while his own BJP partymen are hailing him as a ‘’Vishwaguru’’ and mentioned that he has proved that he (Modi) is a ‘’weak PM.’’

Siddaramaiah went on to taunt BJP and Modi by pointing out that the former BJP chief minister Yediyurappa, who is considered as the tallest Lingayat leader in BJP, had attacked him and had revolted against him. "You fell at his (Yediyurappa) feet and brought him back and have now made him member of BJP parliamentary board, the highest decision-making body, in the BJP. Does this not show that you yourselves admit to being a weak PM?’’ he asked.

The senior Congress leader mentioned that half a dozen leaders in BJP have risen in revolt against prime minister’s leadership. ‘’Your own party leaders are squabbling in the public and fighting among one another. Nobody responds to your own appeals. Some of these (disgruntled BJP leaders) are in contact with the Congress party,’’ he said and pointed out that ‘’indiscipline is rampant in BJP, which was supposed to be the most disciplined party.’’

‘’Isn’t this proof of your being a weak PM?’’ asked the chief minister and said Eshwarappa stayed off Modi’s Shivamogga rally and has been pouring venom
against your leadership and Yediyurppa constantly.

‘’This certainly proves that you are a weak PM, ‘’ said Siddaramaiah. ‘’Ours is a party with internal democracy. There are several persons who are eminently qualified to become chief minister,’’ he said and asked Modi: ‘’What about your own BJP, which boasts of being the party with the largest membership in the entire world? But it is regrettable that there is not a single person capable of becoming PM. You are not allowing anybody to grow in stature or rise up the rank and file because you are afraid of losing power. I am a stong CM and not a weak PM like you,’’ he added.