CM, oppn debate over soon-to-be held bypoll results

 The final day of the state legislature session turned almost into a sort of election campaign forum for the Congress and BJP members.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, during his reply to the discussion on the budget for 2017-18 on Tuesday, did not miss an opportunity to repeatedly claim that his party would win the byelections in Nanjungud and Gundlupet.

He dared the BJP members to accompany him when he visits the two assembly constituencies for campaigning later this week to witness the overwhelming response of the people to the Congress.

“The poll outcome will be a ‘mangalarathi’ (in this context a face loss) for (state BJP president) Yeddyurappa,” he said.

Leader of the Opposition Jagadish Shettar asked if Siddaramaiah is so confident of the Congress winning the bypolls then why has he deputed around 20 ministers to camp in the constituencies.

“Why has Yeddyurappa been staying in the constituencies for the last two weeks? In a way, it is good for us. His speeches will help us win,” Siddaramaiah shot back.

BJP leader C T Ravi said the BJP would replicate its performance in Uttar Pradesh in the bypolls. Siddaramaiah said the BJP is under the false impression that the Modi wave would help them.

“What happened to the wave in Punjab and Goa ?” he asked. Siddaramaiah said the BJP’s election slogan is ‘Sab ka saat, sab ki vikas’. But it is the Congress government which is implementing it. “How can there be progress of all when you sideline the minorities?” he asked the BJP members.

Basavaraj Bommai (BJP) said Siddaramaiah should recall what he had said about the Congress when he was in the JD(S).

Siddaramaiah charged that the BJP has been spreading “lies” in two constituencies and he has to counter them.

The byelections in Nanjangud and Guldlupet are scheduled to be held on April 9.

Siddaramaiah’s model of Karnataka!

If the BJP is proud of the ‘Gujarat model of development’, then Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is proud of the ‘Karnataka model of development.’ According to Siddaramaiah, his model has ensured welfare and progress of all sections of society. He has credited himself with moulding the ‘Karnataka model’ for the last four years.

“The BJP was harping on the Gujarat model of development for many years. They have stopped speaking about it these days. The role model for the nation will be path of development taken by Karnataka during the last four years,” Siddaramaiah said. Some of the features of the ‘Karnataka model’ are -  Inclusive growth and overall development of the state, thrust to social justice and pro-farmer, pro-women and pro-poor programmes, he added.