Daijiworld Media Network-Bengaluru (RJP)

Bengaluru, May 20: “Nobody from state Congress helped me to join the party. I only took initiative and joined with the help from central leadership,” said chief minister Siddaramaiah on Friday, March 19.

He was speaking during an interaction with media persons jointly organized by Bengaluru Press Club and federation of journalists.

“I knew Ahmed Patel since I was the deputy chief minister. I had been in touch with him. After I left JD(S), I founded ABPJD party which did not fare well in Zilla Panchayat elections. Then I felt that I should join Congress. At that time I went to New Delhi and met Ahmed Patel. He arranged a meeting with Sonia Gandhi and it was decided to induct me into Congress.” Siddaramaiah explained.

“From there I went to Mumbai and met S M Krishna and asked for his cooperation to join Congress. Neither H Vishwanath nor any Congress leader from the state help me join Congress as claimed by some people,” he added.

“It is sad that some people still say they helped me to join Congress which is untrue,” he said.

“There are many candidates for the post of chief minister during the next Assembly in Karnataka. Presently I have been asked to lead the party in elections. Once the elections are over, legislators will choose the leader and the party high command will guide us,” Siddaramaiah said speaking about next election and leadership issue in the state.

“I am happy that out of 165 promises made, we have implemented 155. Opposition calls us as Ahinda government. I am really pro-poor, but I am not against upper caste people.” he concluded.

He declined to comment on the issue of H Vishwanath leaving Congress and joining JD(S). Vishwanath had claimed several times in the recent past that he helped Siddaramaiah to join Congress.