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Tag: Siddaramaiahs

  • Battle for Varuna: Shah to campaign on Siddaramaiah’s turf today

    Battle for Varuna: Shah to campaign on Siddaramaiah’s turf today

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    Mysuru: Union Home Minister Amit Shah will campaign in the Varuna constituency on Tuesday, where the battle is between Congress strongman, Siddaramaiah and senior BJP leader and state minister V. Somanna.

    The constituency is witnessing a tight contest, and campaigning has turned bitter. Violent incidents have also been reported. What seemed to be a cake-walk for Siddaramaiah has changed now, and with Shah campaigning the fight could be cut-throat.

    Amit Shah is addressing a public rally in the Hosakote village of the constituency. Former Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa, MP and veteran leader V. Srinivasparasad, who is a prominent Dalit leader in the region, are participating in the programme.

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    The Home Minister wants to send a strong signal to the voters that fielding of Somanna against Siddaramaiah was a serious and calculated move of the party. The programme will also put an end to the rumours in the political circles that Somanna is being made a sacrificial goat by the party.

    However, souces said that the BJP had planned to confine Siddaramaiah to Varuna constituency and plans to not allow him to take up statewide tours and campaign for Congress.

    Siddaramaiah is considered to be the leader of oppressed classes and he often takes on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Amit Shah and RSS chief. BJP has been strategizing for his downfall in the state politics for a long time.

    However, the contest for him this time is proving to be a cliffhanger as the Lingayat community comprises the largest group of voters in the constituency. By roping in veteran Dalit leader Srinivasprasad, the BJP wants to consolidate the equally biggest chunk of votes of SC/ST and OBCs in the seat.

    It was rumoured that Yediyurappa and Somanna had locked horns and there would be division of Lingayat votes. However, Amit Shah is ensuring Yediyurappa is present and pledges his support for Somanna. In fact, Yediyurappa had already stated that he would ensure the defeat of Siddaramaiah.

    Siddaramaiah, who stated he would not even bother to visit the constituency and his victory is ensured, had to rush and conduct day-long campaigning recently. The BJP and Congress workers are in confrontation mode and the situation is volatile as polling day is getting closer. Siddaramaiah is vying for the post of Chief Minister if the Congress is voted to power. BJP has promised a big role for Somanna if he defeats Siddaramaiah.

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    ( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

  • Kharge, Siddaramaiah’s statements offer BJP way out of Lingayat humiliation charge

    Kharge, Siddaramaiah’s statements offer BJP way out of Lingayat humiliation charge

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    Bengaluru: As Karnataka inches closer to assembly elections, the BJP and the Congress campaigns are getting nastier as the BJP finds itself pushed into a corner over the way it treated prominent Lingayat leaders, and the Congress on the back-foot because of its leaders’ recent remarks.

    The statements by leaders of the grand old party regarding ‘corrupt’ Lingayat chief ministers and comparing Prime Minister Narendra Modi to a ‘poisonous snake’ (later withdrawn) have given the BJP much-needed ammunition to counter the narrative the Congress spun around former CM Jagadish Shettar and ex-Deputy CM Laxman Savadi, both prominent Lingayat leaders, who joined the Congress after quitting the BJP on being denied tickets.

    The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has come down heavily on the Congress over remarks made by Opposition leader Siddaramaiah and AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge.

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    The BJP was waiting for a long time to attack Siddaramaiah as he is a known critic of the RSS and Hindutva.

    Siddaramaiah is the only leader from the state to attack PM Modi, Amit Shah and, is still not targeted by any central agencies.

    Kharge surprised everyone with his remarks of comparing PM Modi to a poisonous snake. Though he withdrew his statement and maintained that it was issued with reference to Hindutva ideology and the RSS agenda, the BJP got an opportunity to make din, and the humiliation of Lingayat leadership charge was put to back-burner.

    While campaigning in Varuna constituency in Mysuru district, Siddaramaiah stated that Lingayat CMs indulged in corruption and destroyed the state.

    Though Siddaramaiah clarified that his statement was meant only for current Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, a controversy was stirred.

    Kharge, while addressing a public rally at Naregal town of Gajendragarh in Gadag district of Karnataka, stated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is like a poisonous snake. Kharge further warned the crowd that if you taste any offers by snake (Modi), you will die.

    He also said that the BJP should tell what is its contribution to the country.

    “Not even the pet dog of their home had given its life to the country,” Kharge said.

    Union Minister Amit Shah who has launched an aggressive campaign in Karnataka declared that attacks on PM Modi will only create ‘waves’ for him and help the BJP.

    Union Minister for Women and Child Development Smriti Irani stated that the Congress is such a party, when an Adivasi woman was made candidate for the post of President, it humiliated her. It had made those who insult Hindu religion as star campaigners.

    “Congress seeks support of SDPI, it talks of releasing PFI goons. Today, Congress leaders are again criticising PM Modi. Kharge saheb is older than me. This insecurity does not bring dignity to you,” she said.

    V.P. Niranjan Aradhya, an activist and senior academician, told IANS that right from the beginning, “what we are claiming is that no issue concerning people is being discussed at all”.

    “Only matters of caste, religion, pitting one community against another is happening.

    “The twist in the tale is, so far the general feeling was BJP hated Muslims. Now, they are breaking communities. The attempt to create characters of Uri Gowda and Nanje Gowda were created to pit Vokkaligas against Muslims, removal of quota of reservations for Muslims and pit them against Vokkaligas and Lingayats, this is very dirty politics,” Niranjan Aradhya said.

    He further said: “Absolutely, there is no morality and value-based politics. Particularly talking about the Constitution and the Constitutional values, fundamental rights, issues are totally absent. With Jagadish Shettar and Laxman Savadi’s exit, it is more or less proved that the BJP is a Brahminical party, completely controlled by the RSS.

    “I think the people of Karnataka should think seriously. All these days, it has been about Hindus and Muslims. Not only this, they will not allow Hindus to live peacefully as well. People should think and go by the Constitution. Pluralism, multiculturalism, multilingualism and more than anything diversity are challenged and being erased. This is the right time to take a call,” Niranjan Aradhya added.

    The Assembly election in Karnataka is scheduled to be held on May 10 and the result would be announced on May 13.

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    ( With inputs from www.siasat.com )