Just the day after filing his nomination papers from Badami in Bagalakote district in Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah use social media for attack at the BJP leaders including Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In a fresh attack over his twitter handler Siddaramaiah called Narendra Modi and UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath as North Indian imports forgetting that Congress president Rahul Gandhi and host of other Congress leaders are from north India.
“BJP by waiting for North Indian imports like PM Modi, UP CM Adityanath is admitting they have no leaders in the State. They have reduced their CM face BS Yeddyurappa to a dummy," Siddaramaiah tweeted.
The BJP was quick to answer his twitter spat and called this a divisive politics of the Congress and Siddaramaiah. "ImportsIJ How much low can you stoop Mr CMIJ Your attempt at North-South divide is disgusting. But we understand your anxiety. While you are rejected by your own constituents, PM Modi has a pan India appeal. It's time you learn a thing or "two about leadership when he's here," the BJP tweeted.
His close associates say that it was deliberate ploy by Siddaramaiah ahead of PMs Karnataka campaign which commences on May 1. They also feel that it was to counter BJP’s strategy to bring star campaigners ahead of May 12 polls which include Modi, Yogi Adityanath, Amit Shah, Hemamalini and others.
The BJP also took a dig at Sonia Gandhi and Congress President Rahul Gandhi and questioned their origin. The saffron party asked Siddaramaiah what he had to say about the occupants of 10 Janpath (the official residence of Sonia Gandhi) if he had an issue with so-called "imports" Modi and Yogi.
"Well, speaking of imports, what do you have to say about the occupants of 10 JPIJ We can understand your frustration and desperation Mr CM. When you realize PM Modi is more popular than you are even in your own Chamundeshwari, these kinds of outbursts are natural," BJP said in another tweet.
As per the confirmed reports from the BJP, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to address about 20 rallies in Karnataka to boost the BJP’s campaign from May 1. Karnataka elections are crucial for both the Congress and the BJP. Even though PM had addressed public meetings in the state earlier, he has not hit the campaign trail since the Election Commission announced the assembly election schedule on March 27. The election is scheduled for May 12 and the counting of votes will take place on May 15. Party president Amit Shah who is working out party’s strategy to take on the Congress is frequenting the state and also has scheduled to come again to campaign for the party.
In another development to encourage women voters the election commission is setting up pink polling booths entirely manned by women to attract more women voters. Pink polling booths were setup in assembly polls held in Punjab, Goa, Himachal Pradesh, Gujarat and some north-eastern states.