Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Feb 24: Chief minister (CM) of Karnataka, Siddaramaiah, admitted that the results of the zilla and taluk panchayat elections have belied the expectations of the party to emerge victorious with a thumping majority by ruthlessly crushing the opposition challenge. Addressing a press conference at his home office, 'Krishna' on Tuesday February 23, he asserted that this is not a popular mandate against the functioning of the state government.

"We had expected a better performance by party candidates. As compared to 2010, our party has bagged opportunity to rule ten additional taluk and zilla panchayats independently. I, on behalf of the state government and Congress, hereby express our gratitude to the people of the state for the support," he stated.

The CM analyzed that his party could have fared much better, had local issues, caste combinations, and personal charisma had not played a decisive role in the election. He also felt that the government could not reach out to the people in an effective manner as Lok Sabha, gram panchayat, legislative council, zilla, and taluk panchayat elections followed one another closely, and there was dearth of time. He said during the remaining tenure of two years and three months, he would strive to introduce more people-friendly iniitiatives and hone the administrative to become more efficient. "We will work with the 2018 assembly poll in mind henceforth. We will go to the people and make efforts to respond to their problems," he stated.

He said that the party is unable to independently rule the panchayats at 11 places, and that his party will aim at aligning with secular parties to wrest power at these places. When press persons wanted to know whether he would hold discussions with Deve Gowda on this issue, he replied in the negative. He said that for the present, local leaders would be given the responsibility of striking an alliance.

About the upcoming visit of Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president, Dr G Parameshwar, to New Delhi, Siddaramaih said he knows about the visit. He said he was not aware of the purpose of this visit. He added that he would be going to New Delhi after the budget session of the assembly concludes.