Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah were engaged in a bitter war of words on Tuesday as the Assembly poll campaigns hot up.
Modi took a jibe at Siddaramaiah and said his decision to contest from two seats and fielding his son in May 12 polls was the Kannada version of Congress’ family politics. The Chief Minister was quick to hit back at the Prime Minister, saying, “2 Reddys+1 Yeddy was Modi’s formula to win the election”.
“I was reading the newspaper a couple of days ago and I found that in Karnataka, the 2+1 formula is going on. This is nothing but the Kannada version of Congress’ family politics. Due to the fear of defeat, he (Siddaramaiah) went in search of another seat,” Modi said while addressing a rally at Santhemarahalli.
Siddaramaiah unleashed a tweeter barb at the PM reminding Modi that he too had contested from two seats during the 2014 lok Sabha elections. Attacking Modi over the BJP fielding tainted Reddy brothers in the Assembly elections, the Chief Minister said, “2 Reddys+1 Yeddy is Modi’s formula to win the election.”
“Today, the Prime Minister avoided talking about his complicity in closing CBI cases against the Reddy brothers. Instead, he spoke about some 2+1 formula. Here is the explanation of his formula to win the election. 2 Reddys+1 Yeddy,” Siddaramaiah said in another tweet.
‘Yeddy’ is a reference to BJP’s chief ministerial candidate BS Yeddyurappa. The Chief Minister asked Modi to worry about his party as it would not cross 60-70 seats.
Siddaramaiah tweeted, “PM repeats the lie of increasing crime rate for political purposes. I challenge him for an open debate on a single platform on crime and law & order situation in Karnataka vis-a-viz BJP-ruled States.”
Siddaramaiah is contesting from Chamundeshwari constituency in Mysuru and Badami in Bagalkot district. Siddaramaiah’s candidature from Badami came amid reports that the battle at Chamundeshwari was not easy for him. His son Dr Yathindra is contesting from Varuna constituency in Mysuru, which has been Siddaramaiah’s constituency since 2008.
Two of the Reddy brothers — Gali Somashekhara Reddy and Gali Karunakara Reddy — have been fielded from Bellary and Harapanahalli, both in Ballari district, respectively.
Gali Janardhana Reddy is out on bail and is campaigning for his close confidant B Sriramulu, who has been projected as Deputy Chief Minister if the BJP comes to power.
Janardhana Reddy has been seen with BS Yeddyurappa in a roadshow at Molakalmuru constituency campaigning for B Sriramulu. Even though BJP national president Amit Shah had told a Press conference recently in Mysuru that party has nothing to do with Janardhana Reddy, the party has given him all the importance which might help him revive his political future.
Plunging in the battle of Karnataka for the first time on Tuesday, the Prime Minister addressed three rallies across the State. The BJP has pinned its hopes on Modi to change the prospects of the party, which is trailing on second place behind the Congress in majority of the opinion polls.
Significantly, addressing a massive rally at coastal town of Udupi in south Karnataka, Modi slammed Congress president Rahul Gandhi for insulting former JD(S) supremo and Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda, a powerful Vokkaliga leader. The JD(S) could emerge as a kingmaker in case of a hung Assembly.
Vokkaligas or Gowdas, a farming community with over 12 per cent of the population, are a deciding factor in many constituencies in old Mysuru and a few other parts of the State. In Karnataka politics, Vokkaligas and lingaytas are dominant communities.
Modi said, “HD Deve Gowda is a senior and honourable former Prime Minister. There might be political differences between parties but civility and respect should be maintained. The Congress president’s disrespect towards Deve Gowda ji is not acceptable. If such is their mindset, how can they think good for people of KarnatakaIJ You have to teach them a lesson.”
“Whenever former Deve Gowda ji visits me in Delhi I always welcome him with respect and always give him time. The way Rahul Gandhi talked about him recently is shameful,” he added.
Incidentally, just 24 hours ago Deve Gowda had categorically said that he will never go with the BJP and if his son Kumaraswamy compromised with the BJP he will be excommunicated from the family.
PM Modi’s comment on Deve Gowda came at a time when the Congress labeled the JD(S) as ‘B-team of the BJP’ in this election.
Addressing his first rally at Santhemarahalli in Chamarajanagar, Modi challenged Rahul Gandhi for debate on development of Karnataka. “He (Rahul Gandhi) had challenged me that if he speaks for 15 minutes then I will not be able to stand in front of him. Yes, you are right, you are a ‘naamdar’, what right do we ‘kaamdaars’ have to even sit in front of you,” Modi said.
“For 15 minutes, without taking a paper in your hand, can you please talk about the achievements of your Government in KarnatakaIJ You can speak in any language as you please — English, Hindi or your mother tongue Italian,” Modi added challenging Rahul for a debate.
Focusing his attack on Rahul, Modi went on to say, “Perhaps due to over excitement, the newly elected Congress president forgets decency,” he said. “He did not even bother to congratulate the hardworking ‘mazdoors’ due to whom India’s villages are getting electricity. I want to ask those who ruled India for a majority of the years since 1947 --why did they not think about the 18,000 villages lacking access to electricity.”
He also brought out Vande Mataram controversy to take a jibe at Rahul Gandhi without naming him. “The Congress is led by leaders who have no respect for India’s history. I was shocked that they even went to the level of disrespecting ‘Vande Mataram’,” the PM said.
At Udupi, he slammed the Siddaramaiah Government for failure of law and order and unleashing vendetta politics against BJP worklers. “Violence cannot exist in a democracy. It is shameful how the BJP karyakartas were murdered in Karnataka. The Congress must answer on increasing crimes,” the PM said.
“When the lokayukta in the State is not safe, how can one expect the common people to be safe under the Congress Government,” asked Modi.
“The Government is talking about enhancing ‘Ease of Doing Business’ in the country, but the Congress believes in ‘Ease of Doing Murder’. This is the culture they have developed,” he said.
He also criticised family politics of the Congress. “Where there is the Congress, all roads that lead to development are blocked. There is only family politics, corruption and lack of harmony,” said Modi.