Former chief minister B S Yediyurappa on Monday said Opposition Leader Siddaramaiah would not contest the Assembly polls from the Kolar constituency and was “playing a drama”.
“Today itself, I will say one thing, do not think I’m making a prediction, I think Siddaramaiah will not contest from Kolar for any reason. He is playing a drama and is trying to go back to Mysuru,” Yediyurappa said.
Speaking to reporters here, the former chief minister said the Congress legislature party leader is aware that he would face a defeat and have to go home if he contests from Kolar.
“He is playing political circus and drama, according to me. He will not contest from there (Kolar) and may try to go back to Mysuru, if that happens we will do the strategy we need to,” he added.
Asked about talks that were doing rounds that Siddaramaiah may contest from two seats, Yediyurappa, a member of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)’s top parliamentary board, said, “I don’t know about it. It is left to their party. Let him contest from two or three seats, but going home is certain.”
BJP national general secretary C T Ravi said on Monday that Pakistan would be safe for Congress leader Siddaramaiah to contest the polls as it suited the former Karnataka chief minister’s ‘’mindset’’.
The Chikkamagaluru MLA took a dig at Siddaramaiah in response to a question about the former chief minister’s wish to contest from Kolar, touted to be a safe seat, in the forthcoming assembly polls.
“In my opinion, Pakistan is safe for him (Siddaramaiah),” Ravi said.
Speaking to reporters, Ravi said, “For his mindset, Pakistan is safe, as there is no (Prime Minister) Modi or (CM) Basavaraj Bommai or (former CM) Yediyurappa there. If he goes there, there will also be no D K Shivakumar (KPCC chief) or G Parameshwara (Congress leader) or Kharge (AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge) to trouble him there. So, Pakistan is safe.’”
Leader of opposition and former Congress chief minister Siddaramaiah January 8 announced that he would contest elections from Kolar district if the party’s high command permitted.
Siddaramaiah is yet to react to Yediyurappa’s statement.
However, Siddaramaiah’s office in a statement said that he has “held a rally in Kolar which was attended by over 60,000 party workers” and “it shows his commitment towards his decision to contest from Kolar”.
According to Congress party analysts, Kolar has been chosen by Siddaramaiah because of a mix of voters in the district.
“Kolar is a safe bet for Siddaramaiah as it will consolidate AHINDA votes in his favour, and Vokkaliga leaders of the party from the region also have pledged support to him,” analysts said.
AHINDA is a Kannada acronym that stands for ‘Alpasankhyataru’ (minorities), ‘Hindulidavaru’ (Backward Classes) and ‘Dalitaru’ (Dalits).
(With PTI inputs)
