JOIN USChief Minister Siddaramaiah said on Saturday that the outcome of the polls in the northeastern states would not have any effect on election results in Karnataka.
"The BJP is claiming that Karnataka will be free from Congress. But, the state will be free from BJP," Siddaramaiah told reporters on his arrival at the Hubballi airport.
Replying to a question, the chief minister said AICC president Rahul Gandhi, who visited Hubballi recently, did not know that farmers fighting for Kalasa-Banduri project were waiting for him. So, he did not meet them, Siddaramaiah said.
He said that the government would recommend to the Centre to grant separate religion tag for Lingayat faith after going through the report submitted by the Nagmohandas committee.
"We are of the opinion that elections should be held through ballot papers," he said.
It is not the question of faith or no faith in electronic voting machines (EVMs). Many countries that used EVMs have now returned to ballot papers and that should be done here also, he said.
The chief minister said conducting all elections simultaneously would not be possible till the Representation of People Act was amended.
Rahul would visit districts in Mysuru division on March 20, 21, 24 and 25, and he would be in coastal districts on March 20 and 21, Siddaramaiah said.
Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly Jagadish Shettar and MP Pralhad Joshi said the election results in North Eastern States show that people have accepted the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and this trend would continue in Karnataka also.
"Karnataka is the last state being ruled by the Congress and the BJP would win the Assembly elections here also," they told reporters.
Shettar charged that the Congress was afraid of defeat, and therefore, it was opposing EVMs.