From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
Kalaburagi, Mar 13: Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar has claimed that 3 sitting BJP MPs and many sitting BJP MLAs have evinced interest to join Congress party and refused to divulge the names of the prospective new admissions saying: “Wait for few days, everything will be known.’’
He said even JDS leaders are willing to join and several persons have already joined from BJP and JDS.
Shivakumar, who is also the State Congress chief, declared that the ruling Congress party is confident of winning more than 20 out of the 28 Lok Sabha seats in Karnataka.
“I have travelled and regularly meet people from all parts of the State. I know the pulse of the people and how the people like the Congress government for keeping its pre-election promise of implementing the five guarantees which have helped 4.5 crore out of the 6.5 crore people in the State,’’ he told media persons in Kalaburgi on Wednesday.
The Deputy Chief Minister, who is in Kalaburgi to attend the convention of guarantee beneficiaries, said: “The very fact that BJP, which had won 27 out of the 28 seats in 2019, is now discarding its 10 sitting MPs and fielding new candidates besides entering into alliance with JDS, despite knowing both BJP and JDS had lost in assembly polls, is indication of the fear of the BJP. There is a strong anti-incumbency feeling with people angry at the non-performance of BJP MPs.’’
No problem if Dr Manjunath contests
Answering questions, Shivakumar said he has lot of respect for Dr C N Manjunath, noted cardiologist, and pointed out that it was the Congress government which had extended the term of Dr Manjunath as Director of the Jayadeva Institute of Cardiology.
“I don’t know if Dr Manjunath is really interested in contesting in the Lok Sabha election as a BJP-JDS combine candidate from Bengaluru Rural constituency. If he does, he will know that he will lose his reputation,’’ he said.
Shivakumar said: “I personally respect Dr Manjunath, H D Deve Gowda and H D Kumaraswamy. But politics is different. I had contested against Deve Gowda. The Congress party had defeated Deve Gowda by fielding a novice woman candidate. I have contested against Kumaraswamy and won against him. My brother D K Suresh has won against Kumaraswamy’s wife, Anita Kumaraswamy.’’
“We have no problem if Dr Manjunath contests against by brother Suresh as he has worked like a grama panchayat member rather than as MP and visited every village in the constituency and has won the hearts of the people. I understand that Kumaraswamy’s sister had cried against the move field her husband in the elections. I don’t want to meddle in their internal family matters,’’ he said adding: “You will know what will happen if Dr Manjunath contests against my brother Suresh. We have seen how the father and son (Kumaraswamy and Nikhil Kumaraswamy) have fought elections.’’
Why PM, HM are silent on Hegde?
Shivakumar said Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP high command has tacitly approved Karwar BJP MP Anant Kumar Hegde’s statement on changing the Constitution if the party wins 400 seats in the Lok Sabha.
“We have seen BJP leaders making statements publicly dissociating themselves from what Hegde had said. If they really want to condemn, why are they not taking any action against their own MP, who has sworn to uphold Constitution, publicly speaks against it? Why are the Prime Minister and Home Minister silent? It is clear that they agree with what Hegde said as it is BJP’s hidden agenda,’’ he said.
Replying to questions, he said there is no rift between him and the Chief Minister as they have decided to travel separately in the State as Lok Sabha elections are likely to be announced shortly. “I have discussed this with the Chief Minister and we are deliberately touring the State separately to meet the beneficiaries of the guarantees,’’ he said.