No anti-incumbency wave in state: Siddaramaiah

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said, there may be disappointment among the people about the functioning of a few MLAs, but, generally, there is no anti-incumbency wave against the Congress state government.

Interacting with media persons at the MDJA in the city, on Friday, he said, “We have given a stable government for a full five-year term. We have given a clean, scandal-less administration. We have fulfilled all the 165 promises in the 2013 poll manifesto of the party. In addition, we have rolled out several other schemes, projects and programmes for the welfare of the people of all communities.”

“While our poll plank is our achievements over the past five years, our manifesto speaks for itself. However, both the BJP and the JD(S) are indulged in raking up trivial issues and levelling baseless allegations. Prime Minister Narendra Modi describes our government as a 10% government. Does he have any evidence against our government to prove his allegations,” he asked.

“The BJP has been misleading the people, saying that 23 of its activists have been killed. However, only 12 of them are related to the BJP. The BJP has been politicising the deaths. Now, former chief minister B S Yeddyurappa has been having breakfast at the houses of Dalits. In fact, taking publicity for having breakfast in their houses, as a great gesture, is an insult to the people of the community. Does he not know that untouchability is a crime, under the Constitution,” he asked.

“Key persons in the BJP and its government have been spelling out their agenda, like Union Minister Anantkumar Hegde hinting at changing the Constitution. BJP president claims it to be a personal viewpoint. Should he not be sacked for issuing anti-Constitutional statements,” he questioned.

Speaking about criticism of hereditary politics, he said, leaders of both opposition parties, the BJP and the JD(S), do not have any moral right to speak about the issue. “Mine was supposed to be the last election in 2013. But, because the party high-command wanted to go to the polls under my leadership, inevitably I am contesting.”