With just a month remaining until the crucial Karnataka Assembly polls, the Congress party on Tuesday accused the Basavaraj Bommai-led government of “misrule,” stating that there is a strong sense of “anti-incumbency” against the BJP government in the state.
The Congress party held its central election committee meeting in this location, with the participation of former party chief Rahul Gandhi, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, KC Venugopal, Karnataka unit chief DK Shivakumar, former chief minister Siddaramaiah, and Karnataka party in-charge Randeep Surjewala, among others.
Sources within the party have revealed that the meeting included discussions regarding the names of 50 additional candidates.
Following the four-hour-long CEC meeting, Randeep Surjewala addressed the media and launched an attack on the ruling BJP, stating, “The BJP is a sinking ship (in Karnataka) that is on a nosedive. Neither PM Narendra Modi nor the Bommai government can save it.”
Surjewala also took a jibe at the “double-engine government” of the BJP in the state and the Centre. As a Rajya Sabha MP, he commented, “The Modi government betrays Karnataka on the one hand, while the Bommai government brazenly looted the state on the other hand. The so-called ‘double-engine government’ is a double betrayal for Karnataka.”
In response to a question, the Congress leader, who was accompanied by Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar, said, “The Congress party is completely united in Karnataka. There is complete chaos in the BJP. Many leaders left the BJP because they have no confidence in the Bommai government.”
Endorsing Surjewala, Siddaramaiah said, “The ground reality in Karnataka is that there is a wave in favor of the Congress party. There is strong anti-incumbency against the BJP government because of its misrule.”
“The people of the state have decided to oust this government and bring back Congress in power,” Siddaramaiah, who is also the Leader of Opposition in the Karnataka Assembly, said.
Meanwhile, Congress poster boys – Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar – in Karnataka on Tuesday also appeared to “stand together” after the party’s CEC meeting regarding the Karnataka Assembly elections in New Delhi.
Siddaramaiah, on Tuesday, went into damage control mode and said his statement was misinterpreted by a section of the media.
On Monday, Siddaramaiah reportedly said that the high command won’t make Shivakumar Congress CM face.
“I gave an interview yesterday and said I’m an aspirant for the CM post. DK Shivakumar is also an aspirant. Our aim is to defeat the BJP and bring Congress to power…My statement was misinterpreted…Never said High Command isn’t happy with DK Shivakumar…,” Siddaramaiah said.
Addressing the media along with Siddaramaiah after the meeting, Shivakumar too tried to clear the air and said, “Our aim is to bring Congress back to power in Karnataka. We will bring good governance to the state. We all stand together.”
Earlier, Congress had released a list of 124 candidates for the 224-member assembly.
Elections for the 224-member Karnataka Assembly will be held on May 10, and counting of votes will take place on May 13.
The opposition Congress is eyeing to return to power. The BJP is hopeful that it will retain power, while the JD-S led by former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda will also try to wrest power from the BJP.
