CM hits out at JD(S), calls it an opportunist party

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday accused the JD(S) of being an opportunistic party always looking forward to a fractured mandate.

Speaking to the media on the sidelines of his BBMP election campaign at Domlur, he said the JD(S) had no presence in Bengaluru. It has no influence in any corner of the City.

“The party will have demand only if there is a fractured mandate. Hence, it always tries to defeat the Congress candidates. This has been the strategy of this party in all the elections,” he stated.

JD(S) leader H D Deve Gowda and H D Kumaraswamy might make tall claims about their party. But the fact is the JD(S)’ presence is limited not only in Bengaluru but also in the entire State. Except for some three districts, the party has no hold anywhere in the State, he said. Siddaramaiah conducted roadshows in Shantinagar, Chamarajpet and Shivajinagar Assembly constituencies, seeking votes for the Congress candidates.

He was accompanied by AICC general secretary in charge of Karnataka, Digvijaya Singh, and KPCC president G Parameshwara and the party candidates of the respective wards. Singh is scheduled to return to Delhi on Saturday morning.

‘People want change’
The chief minister said the electorate in Bengaluru wanted a change as they were fed up with the misrule of the BJP. “The party leaders did nothing in the last five years in the BBMP.

All they did was looting the taxpayers’ money. CAG reports and Rajendra Kumar Kataria report have proved how the BJP indulged in corruption, he added. The BJP, which was in majority in the BBMP Council, used to present an inflated budget. The BBMP currently has a total debt of Rs 9,000 crore. A number of public buildings were pledged in order to raise money. There was also a proposal to pledge the Town Hall building, but the government rejected it, he added.