JOIN USCoordination Committee chairman of the Congress-JD(S) coalition Government Siddaramaiah advised BJP MLA K S Eshwarappa to seek political renunciation over his failure to secure a BJP ticket to the candidates hailing from Backward Classes.
Campaigning for the Congress-JD(S) coalition candidate H B Manjappa at Tyavanigi in Davangere district on Saturday, the former chief minister came down heavily on Eshwarappa.
In spite of hailing from the Kuruba community, Eshwarappa failed to ensure that the Kurubas got an opportunity to contest the Lok Sabha elections on BJP ticket. Let him renounce from politics, Siddaramaiah expressed.
“The BJP is fielding candidates from 27 constituencies in the state. However, none of the candidates hail from Backward Classes or Minorities. Tickets were issued to SC and ST candidates only because of reservation,” he said.
“Whereas the Congress-JD(S) coalition parties had issued tickets to 8 candidates from the Backward Classes and among them three are Kurubas. If a Kuruba leader is not able to ensure a ticket for a candidate hailing from Backward Classes, then what is the use of Eshwarappa being in politics? Is he fit to be a leader? Let him renounce from politics,” he lambasted.
“I would like to request the members of the Backward Classes, Minorities and Dalits with folded hands not to cast a single vote to the BJP. All the poor hailing from various castes should bless the Congress with their votes,” he appealed.
He further said, “I did not say I would become chief minister tomorrow itself. When the Congress government would come to power in future and if I was elected as chief minister, I promise to distribute 10 kg rice freely among BPL families.”