Money power won’t help BJP, JD(S): Siddaramaiah

Mysuru: Former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday accused both the Janata Dal (Secular) and Bharatiya Janata Party of using money power to  win the coming byelections to 15 assembly constituencies in the state.

Speaking to reporters near his house in Mysuru, he alleged that 30,000 sarees with photographs of BJP leaders, C P Yogeshwar and A H Vishwanath on their covers, meant for distribution among voters, had been seized recently.   

“How can  the Bharatiya Janata Party allow this to happen when it is in power and  what moral right does it have to continue?  This has to be taken seriously and action  taken against the leaders, whose photographs were found on the saree covers,” he demanded, adding that the people had seen through the designs of the two parties and would not support them.

On Mr Sriramulu's challenge to him to contest against him in Badami again, Mr Siddaramaiah said he was speaking out of desperation.

“He has lost assembly elections against me and although he was promised to be made deputy Chief Minister, that did not happen. And despite his threat to resign if seven per cent reservation was not given to the scheduled tribes, the government has not taken this seriously either. So he is desperate,” he claimed.

The Congress leader revealed that he would begin campaigning for the Hunsur byelection from from Wednesday.