BJP won't come to power in 2018: Karnataka CM

BELAGAVI: Mocking at Bharatiya Janata Party legislators that they ought not to day dream about wresting power from the Congress in Assembly polls scheduled for 2018, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said on Thursday that he would present the budgets for 2017-18 and 2018-19.

He made the statement during question hour in the Legislative Council that the Congress would return to power in 2018 as people would not vote for the Bharatiya Janata Party.

His statement, however, provoked leader of the Opposition K.S.  Eshwarappa to hand out a similar caution to Mr Siddaramaiah as state BJP president B.S. Yeddyurappa would be the next Chief Minister. He quoted state Janata Dal (Secular) president H.D. Kumaraswamy who chanted in the Legislative Assembly on Wedneday “Aab ki baar Kumaraswamy Sarkar,” borrowing a leaf out of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s book. The voters of Karnataka would reject the Congress lock, stock and barrel in 2018 Assembly polls, he added.   

When senior BJP member, Mr K B Shanappa went to the rescue of Mr Eshwarappa, the Chief Minister said, “Shanappa you are one of the most decent members of BJP. Why do you  rush to support Mr Eshwarappa. You and I share a common wave length. Mr Ramachandra  Gowda, you are also a senior member of the Bharatiya Janata Party. Don’t join Mr Yeddyurappa, Mr Eshwarappa and Mr Jagadish Shettar who always mislead  people. The true colours of BJP will be known in next Assembly elections.”

Just as two Janata Dal (Secular) legislators stood up to join the debate, Mr  Siddaramaiah said, “You both belong to our original Janata  Parivar, but your party (JD-S) will not come to power in 2018 Assembly polls.”  An unrelenting Mr Mr Eshwarappa countered the  Chief Minister again saying in a democracy, people  will take a call on which party to be voted.  Mr Siddaramaiah ended the debate  reiterating that his party would  retain power in 2018 polls.