Karnataka Congress says the election results are no referendum on the State Government captained by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah who is playing backward class politics to the hilt. According to G Parameshwara, State Congress president, “lok Sabha polls should not be seen as a referendum on the State Government.” He also ruled out any change in leadership in the State after the lok Sabha results will be out.
Parameshwara told the mediapersons in Bangalore that whatever the results of the lok Saba elections that will not have any bearing on the Government and should not be seen as a referendum.
He said, “I am confident that the Congress will win atleast 20 seats (out of 28) in the State.” However, he said Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and he himself will be responsible for the outcome of the results.
“As the two of us are heading the Government and the party in Karnataka we have the responsibility of ensuring party’s victory in the elections. However high command has not fixed any target for us as reported in the media,” he added.
“If the party gets fewer seats, it would indicate the approach of the Government and the party was not right but we will correct and change. This is essential as we have to face the local elections in nine months.”
Parameshwara blasted JDS for playing adjustment politics in the lo saba elections and accused JDS of having clandestine understanding with the BJP. He said “The JDs had entered into clandestine understanding with the BJP. The JDs candidate in Uttara Kannada constituency withdrew from contesting in the last minute, its candidates in Chamaraja Nagara and Belgaum remained neutral benefitting the BJP.”
Karnataka had gone to polls on April 17 and the state has been very crucial for both Congress and the BJP. While the saffron party is riding high on Modi wave , the Congress has hugely dependent on Congress President Sonia Gandhi and vice president Rahul Gandhi who had campaigned many rounds in the state. Apart from Assam, Kerala Congress party is banking on Karnataka for some consolidation. BJP which had lost its image after the 2013 debacle in the assembly polls, strategically brought back lingayat strongman BS Yeddyurappa and an Schedule Tribe leader B Sriramulu , a close aide of Reddy to maintain its tally. BJP had won 19 seats during 2009 under Yeddyurappa’s leadership. eom/blr