We are not afraid of CM's blackmailing tactic: HDK

"Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is engaged in blackmailing tactics by saying that he can defeat major leaders of Opposition parties. We will not work to defeat anybody, but we will try to make our candidate victorious," said State JD(S) President H D Kumaraswamy.

Speaking to media persons here on Saturday, he said, "we are not afraid of adamant and arrogant behaviour of Mr Siddaramaiah. He claims that he is secular, but he convened a meeting of Vokkalinga community members in Mysuru".

The JD(S) has alliance with the BSP, but we have not yet invited BSP chief Mayavati for campaigning. Both, JD(S) and BSP workers are campaigning together. JD(S) has a target to win more than 113 seats, including 45 seats in North Karnataka region, he said.

We would not be the king maker, but the king itself. If we cannot get majority, we are ready to sit in Opposition benches, he clarified.

"We are not the party which sends money to the high-command, in special flights," he noted.

On Shettar

Leader of Opposition in Legislative Assembly Jagadish Shettar, who stated that contesting from two seats is not correct, should know that Prime Minister Narendra Modi also contested from two seats in Lok Sabha elections, Mr Kumaraswamy said.

Sometimes, contesting from two seats becomes inevitable due to the pressure from the party workers and people, and there is provision in the law for this, he said, defending his decision to contest from Ramnagar and Channapatna constituencies.

"I had never said that I would contest from North Karnataka region, and I had just said that an appropriate decision about this would be taken," he noted.

Mr Shettar worked as the chief minister just to manage him family. I know what 'business' he has done in the areas surrounding Hubballi, he added.

MLC Basavaraj Horatti, JD(S) leaders Rajanna Koravi, M S Akki, Gururaj Hunasimarad, and others were present.