Opposition Leader in the assembly and senior Congress leader Siddaramaiah today said both former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda and his son and former Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy are 'desperate' to regain power.

"I never longed for power as do Deve Gowda and Kumaraswamy. They are desperately striving to regain power," he told reporters here.

Siddaramaiah had quit the JD(S) to join Congress.Kumaraswamy had lambasted Siddaramaiah at Hubli yesterday for suggesting Basavaraj Horatti as the JDS Chief Ministerial candidate in the next elections, alleging he has lost his mental balance and asked him to mind his party's business.

Siddaramaiah exuded confidence of Congress winning the Udupi-Chikamagalur Lok Sabha bypoll on March 18.