The day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his whirlwind tour of poll-bound Karnataka criticised the Congress Government and its Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, the Chief Minister retorted on Monday and claimed Modi targets him because he was afraid of his popularity. In Mysore on Monday, Siddaramaiah said he became the target whenever the Prime Minister came to Karnataka “because he is scared of my political strength”. 

He said citing Modi’s statement that people of the state are frustrated with the congress rule CM said “the by polls victory in Nanjangud and Gundlupet shows how people have accepted the congress and my rule.” He also accused BJP and the JDs of coming together in Chamundeshwari, his constituency in Mysuru to defeat him and said “it is not possible for them to defeat me.”

He also said “ People want our Government to come back (to power) again because they know that Siddaramaiah fulfils the election promises. They know well that our Government came out with programmes for the economically weaker section, farmers, women backward communities and minorities".

He said BJP was playing dirty politics and comedown heavily on them claiming to win 150 seats in the assembly elections. 

PM Modi had on Sunday in a way significantly started the election campaign for poll bound Karnataka and blamed Congress and said people need change. He  had said   "It looks like Karnataka can't wait for the polls. like other States, Karnataka wants to join the development path. I'm confident Karnataka will be integrated into the nation's development."

The assembly polls are due early next year and  Karnataka is  crucial for both the  ruling Congress and the opposition BJP. The State BJP which is talking about Congress Mukth Karnataka as part of its poll strategy will bring Prime Minister Modi as a mascot to decimate the congress. For ruling Congress and CM Siddaramaiah to retain power in Karnataka is crucial to keep its national identity.

Siddaramaiah who is playing appeasement politics to hilt has bogged down by internal dissent . The opposition BJP is no exception and the infighting ahead of elections has caused a major dent in its image in achieving the mission 150 and the saffron party is depending on a strategy by its president Amit Shah and PM Modi.