Cong will win at least 130 seats, maybe even 150, says Siddaramaiah

Mysuru: Former Chief Minister Siddharamaiah on Saturday expressed his confidence that the Congress party will win at least 130 seats in the next elections or maybe as high as 150 seats in the Karnataka Assembly election.

He said the people of the state are aware of the work done by Congress when in power. “We have fulfilled 99 percent of the work that we had promised in our manifesto earlier. We have also announced 200 units of free electricity and Rs 2,000 per month to woman head of the family. We will make many more announcements. These will help us in our campaign for winning the elections. Congress will undoubtedly come to power, no matter what anyone says,” Siddaramaiah said.

Further, Siddaramaiah alleged that an attempt is being made to cover up the Santro Ravi case. Santro Ravi is accused of being a pimp, running a prostitution and human trafficking racket, he said and that is why an attempt has been made to cover it up.

“Why was the case handed over to the CID? Why was he not taken into custody in the beginning? Why was he sent to judicial custody? The CID is also a unit of the state police. There is an attempt to cover up the case,” he said making serious allegations against the government.

Countering the BJP narrative that he has lost his confidence of winning the elections, Siddaramaiah said he will win from Kolar whatever anyone says or does. “I will win despite whatever anyone comes and does in Kolar. Amit Shah had come to defeat me in Badami as well. Sriramulu replaced Ashok Pattanashetty. Yet I could not be defeated. I had only campaigned there (Badami) for two days,” he said.

Giving reasons for changing the constituency, he said, “I changed the Badami constituency because it was far away. It’s not that I’ll lose if I contest from there.The people of Badami said they would get me a helicopter, I declined and chose to contest from Kolar.”

He further targetted the BJP government in the state over the issue of corruption. “Is it a lie that a PSI scam has taken place in the state? Is it a lie that the ADGP is in jail? Why is he in jail if nothing has happened?” he sought to know. Further Siddaramaiah said that BJP central leaders visiting the state is of no use. “What does Nadda have to do with the state? Why are they coming to the state now?” he asked.