From Our Special Correspondent

Daijiworld Media Network

Kalaburgi, Feb 5: Former chief minister and Leader of Opposition in Legislative Assembly Siddaramaiah on Sunday said the ruling BJP’s strategy of entrusting the responsibility of campaigning to the BJP's former chief minister B S Yediyurappa will not click with voters and declared that nobody can prevent Congress party’s victory in the ensuing assembly elections.

Speaking to media persons in Kalaburgi during the second leg of his separate Congress Prajadhwani yatra on Sunday, Siddarmaiah said the BJP high command had virtually punctured the Lingayat strongman by asking him to step down even before completing one year in office and installing Basavaraj Bommai in his position.

"I am happy that the 79-year-old is enjoying good health and has agreed to lead the BJP election campaign despite being punctured when he was in office,’’ Siddaramaiah said pointing out that Yediyurappa’s campaigning will not help the BJP this time and voters will not be fooled.

Siddaramaiah said BJP under Yediyurappa’s leadership and his vigorous campaigning during 2018 to become the chief minister could yield a maximum of 104 seats and BJP had come a cropper.

"BJP high command removed Yediyurappa from power and he has agreed to lead the BJP campaign with a promise to help win 150 seats. But will the voters believe him or the party? Why was he unseated if he was so popular and the party has to depend on him now?,’’ the Congress leader asked.

Siddaramaiah said the Congress leaders have already completed two rounds of state-wide tour and are sure of the pulse and mood of the people. "We know Congress will come back to power,’’ he said the people have decided to oust the corrupt and the inefficient BJP government.

He made it clear that there was no infighting in the Congress party, which is united. "The high command will take a decision on the next chief minister,’’ he said pointing out that there was nothing wrong if Congress leaders want the coveted post because it is a sign that the party is blessed with more capable leaders.

The BJP rule in the State and its double-engine government is nothing but a Jumla, he said claiming that there was a strong anti-incumbency wave against the Basavaraj Bommai government which has completely failed in administration and in tackling the problems of the people.

"The 40% commission, scams in recruitments and failures in keeping the electoral promises or tackling price rise, controlling the sky-rocketing prices of essential commodities, including the prices of petrol and diesel and cooking gas will be enough to defeat the government,’’ he said asking why would people vote for this inefficient and inept ruling party.

The Congress leader wanted the BJP to explain on the failure of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to double the income of farmers or creating 2 crore jobs every year and wondered where are the 16 crore jobs that should have been created during the last eight years.

Answering questions, Siddaramaiah said he was not searching for another constituency to contest or that he is running away from Badami fearing defeat. "If I had contested from Badami, I would have won 100%. In fact, the ruling BJP tried everything to defeat me in the last elections and still I won. People of Badami had even offered to buy me a helicopter for visiting the constituency every week when I said it was too far away from Bengaluru,’’ he said and explained that his decision to contest from another constituency was to select a constituency closer to Bengaluru.

He declared that he would definitely win from Kolar, if the party high command allows him to contest from the constituency.

The Congress leader said the party government had constructed and distributed 15 lakh houses but the BJP has failed to construct even a single house during the last four years it has been in power in the State.

Siddaramaiah said his government had recommended to the Centre to include Kurubas, Gondas, Rajagondas in the Scheduled Tribes community as these people from Yadgri, Kalaburgi, Kodagu and Bidar were equivalent to Kuruba community. But even though there is a BJP rule in the State and Delhi, nothing has happened.

"Kurubas had demanded that the community must be treated as STs. Why has the double-engine government failed?’’ he asked.

The Congress leader said the Panchamasali Lingayat community will also be cheated and accused the Bommai government of granting reservation knowing fully well that the move will be stayed by the high court. The SC and ST community will also be fooled as the government’s decision on increasing the quota limit will not work.

"If the BJP government was serious about reservation and increasing the quota, it should have prevailed upon the Modi government to bring a constitutional amendment to enable the move. Until it is done, the BJP promise will remain unfulfilled,’’ he added.