JD(S), BJP defeated me in Chamundeshwari : Siddaramaiah

Former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday charged that the JD(S) and the BJP leaders came together and defeated him in Chamundeshwari Assembly constituency.

He was addressing local residents at Jammanakatti village in Badami taluk to thank voters for supporting him in the recently concluded Assembly polls.

"No chief minister in the past had worked like me in a period of five years. Some elements did not digest the fact that I was the chief minister and hence plotted my defeat," he said.

"However, voters in Badami did not let me down. I will visit the constituency once a month. As I am a former chief minister, there is a wider opportunity for more development," he said and assured of converting Badami into an ideal constituency.

"Despite hard work, people did not support me which is painful. However, in a democracy we should respect people's verdict," he said.

Referring to BJP MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal's remarks on Muslims, Siddaramaiah charged that Yatnal was dividing the society.

"I can't speak like Yatnal and Anant Kumar Hegde," he said.