Karnataka Poll: Not a given that I will be CM, claims Siddaramaiah

Belagavi: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's quibble over whether he would return as chief minister if the Congress returned to power in Karnataka, notwithstanding, he continued his fierce onslaught against the BJP, saying that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 16 rally blitz of the state would have no impact whatsoever.

Speaking in Vijayapura on whether he will take over as chief minister, he said, “I can't say that only I can become chief minister if the Congress party comes to power in the state. But as the elections are being held under my leadership, there is a possibility that I could become CM again.”

Despite the claims of the Janata Dal (S) to the contrary, Mr Siddaramaiah once again maintained that it had entered into a tacit agreement with the BJP for the coming poll and  he had records to prove that its state chief, H.D. Kumaraswamy recently travelled on the same flight as BJP national party president, Amit Shah.  

Responding to Mr Shah's statement that he would not win from Chamundeshwari, he asserted that the Lingayat issue would not affect his chances from the constituency. 

“The matter of giving a separate religion tag to Lingayats is not  an issue  in the constituency,” he contended.

Once again dismissing the poll surveys , which predicted a hung assembly for Karnataka, the Chief Minister said Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visits to the state would make no impact on the poll outcome. Referring to state BJP president B.S. Yeddyurappa's son being denied a ticket from Varuna these polls, he claimed several BJP leaders, particularly Minister Ananthkumar Hegde, had worked against him to ensure he was not fielded. 

Meanwhile, Water Resources Minister and Lingayat leader from Vijayapura, M B Patil said the Congress party's internal surveys had given it 135 to 145 seats, which would allow it to form the government on its own.