Daijiworld Media Network - Mysuru (SP)

Mysuru, Oct 4: In a turn-around from what he had said earlier, Karnataka chief minister (CM), Sidaramaiah, said here on Tuesday October 3 that he had never said that he would be inaugurating next Dasara. "I only said that our government will inaugurate the next Dasara," he claimed.

The CM was replying to questions raised by media persons at the airport at Mandakalli here. He reminded them that both the party high command and Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president had announced that the assembly election would be fought under his leadership. When the reporters tried to cling to the Dasara inauguration issue, he dismissed it by saying that this is not even an issue and that opposition parties have been speaking about such inconsequential issues.

"I have total faith about the people's leaning towards the Congress. Some people have been claiming that they will form the next government. Why should I tell them not to day-dream about impossible things? Let them hallucinate about bright things if they find happiness in it. Dont they know whom did the people of Gundlupet and Nanajangud people support in the bypoll?" he questioned.

On the murder of Gauri Lankesh, he said he is not aware of latest developments except that the investigation is progressing. He said that the home minister might be having more information. He also shot down the allegation that protests being held condemning the murder of Gauri Lankesh are being sponsored by his party. He also analyzed that Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, has been running the government on the basis of gimmicks and that many including S M Krishna who went to BJP have begun to realize the futility of their move now.