JD(S), BJP ploy to split votes in Basavakalyan: Siddaramaiah

Leader of the Opposition Siddaramaiah on Friday said the JD(S)' move to field a Muslim candidate for the upcoming Basavakalyan assembly bypoll was a “ploy” to split minority votes.

“This is understanding politics. It’s a ploy with the BJP to cause a setback to our candidate,” Siddaramaiah told reporters.

The JD(S) has fielded Syed Yasrab Ali Quadri as its candidate for the Basavakalyan bypoll as if to reassert its secular credentials.

“Why is it that the JD(S) has fielded a candidate only in Basavakalyan and not in Maski or Belgaum? There are 40,000 minority votes that will go to Congress. To divide this, they’ve fielded a Muslim candidate. I appeal to minority voters of Basavakalyan to please understand this ploy,” Siddaramaiah said.

The Congress leader said his party has a good chance in the April 17 bypolls to the Belgaum Lok Sabha, Basavakalyan and Maski assembly segments.

KTPP Amendment

Siddaramaiah slammed the B S Yediyurappa administration for amending the Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurement (KTPP) Act exempting the state-run KRIDL from the tender process for works up to Rs 2 crore.

“When we were in power, we passed a law reserving 50% of tenders for SC/ST contractors up to Rs 50 lakh, which I wanted to increase to Rs 1 crore. With the new amendment, where will SC/ST contractors get the benefit? They will be cheated,” he said. “Also, this will lead to corruption as there won’t be competition. KRIDL anyway does low-quality work. It’ll help MLAs give works to their choice of people and make money,” he added.