Mysuru: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said that after resounding victory in the byelection at Nanjungud and Gundlupet, the Congress is marching ahead and will win 130-plus seats in the May 12 election to the Legislative Assembly. Speaking to newsmen before leaving for campaigning in Varuna constituency on Monday, he said that apparently it seems to be a triangular fight. But in reality it would be a direct fight between the Congress and the BJP in north Karnataka and Congress and the JD(S) in 9 districts of south Karnataka. “But we will prevail and win at least 130 seats.” Mr Siddaramaiah, who is set to file his nomination from Badami on Tuesday, said he will embark on a State-wide campaign from April 26 and restrict himself only for one day in Badami.
“There are senior party leaders who have worked hard in Badami constituency and hence one day is sufficient,” he added expressing confidence of his victory. “I do not bother about my opponents or worry about their stature. Let anybody contest because it is the voters who will give mandate”, he added. Replying to a question about cine actor turned politician Ambareesh being inaccessible and 'playing truant' by refusing to contest from Mandya, Siddaramaiah said that he has not spoken to him yet. “The party decided in his favour but he is yet to convey his decision.
He was supposed to meet me last night but did not turn up. I have asked the party President to speak to him. AICC President Rahul Gandhi is slated to undertake electioneering tour in the State on April 26 and 27. He will tour Uttara Kannada district on April 26 and Dakshina Kannada, Kodagu and Mysuru districts the next day, as per a communique from the Congress office. UNI
BJP confident of Victory in Karnataka
No force can stop the BJP from coming to power in Karnataka after the May 12 elections to Legislative Assembly, Mr Rajeev Pratap Roody who is the core team member of Prime Minsiter Narendra Modi said here on Tuesday. Speaking at the Booth Level Managers meeting at Hebbal in the city, he said the recent surveys had shown marked improvement in the numbers of the seats BJP is going to win and this will increase further to enable the party get a majority and form the next government.
Countdown has started for the arrival of Mr Modi for election campaign in Karnataka and this will bring a drastic change in the political picture of the State. The booth level workers are the real strength of the BJP and they can certainly help the party come back to power, he added. He said Hebbal segment was a strong base for BJP and people favoured the sitting member Y A Narasyanaswamy and hence the BJP had re-nominated him for the current election. Dr Narayanaswamy said he was confident of winning the seat by a margin of at least 25,000. ‘’My opponent Byrati Suresh could be a billionaire as he had declared his assets value at Rs 418 crore. The money power should not be the factor in elections. The people of Hebbal will prove this, he added.(UNI)