'Will not spoil budget by moving no-confidence motion'

State BJP will not move a no-confidence motion during the budget session of the assembly in the State, said senior party leader R Ashok.

Speaking to media persons here on Sunday, he said there is no proposal in front of the BJP to move a no-confidence motion, as it would hurt the people of Karnataka. But, the party is wondering which chief minister will announce the budget: the ‘legitimate CM’ (H D Kumaraswamy) or the illegitimate one (Siddaramaiah).

There is confusion among people of Karnataka regarding who is the chief minister of Karnataka. While legally speaking, Kumaraswamy is the chief minister, for a section of Congress leaders, Siddaramaiah continues to be CM. “The confusion has turned murkier following Siddaramaiah's statement that all his recommendation for the State budget has been incorporated,” he said.

Ashok also charged that the administration mechanism in Karnataka has completely collapsed as the chief minister is being forced to warn his deputy commissioners of sending them to gallows if they do not work. The State government did not even realise that there is a drought in Karnataka till BJP leaders started visiting affected areas, he said.

Replying to a question on the relief funds being released by the Union government to mitigate drought in the state, Ashok said that getting funds from the Union government depends on how ministers and officials present their case before the Centre. He demanded the State government to release details regarding the total amount of funds released by the Union government to address drought issues in State, how much funds have been utilised and how much funds were returned to the Centre without taking up relief work.

Modi blitz in Karnataka

Ashok, who is also in charge of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s political campaign in Karnataka, said the PM would kick start the Lok Sabha campaigning in Karnataka from Hubballi on February 10, followed by another public rally in Kalaburagi on February 17. The date for the third rally is not yet fixed, he said.

He said that Modi is expected to hold nine to eleven rallies in Karnataka, and would affect results of at least 21 Lok Sabha constituencies.

Party national president is also expected to visit the State on February 19 and 27, venues for which are yet to be fixed.

Ashok said no disgruntled MLAs from Congress would be joining BJP during Modi’s visits.

He also said that the party would welcome late cine idol Ambareesh ’s wife Sumalatha to join party and contest from Mandya if she desires to, as she is feeling suffocated in the fight between Congress and JD(S).