<p class="title">After showering praises on JD(S) supremo HD Deve Gowda, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday launched a stinging attack on the regional party, predicting that the JD(S) was “certain to lose” the May 12 Assembly election. </p>.<p class="bodytext">Modi had good words to say about Gowda at a rally in Udupi on Tuesday. Gowda returned the favour by praising Modi on Wednesday, which only fuelled speculation that the two parties were cosying up ahead of the polls. </p>.<p class="bodytext">“We have seen poll pundits and surveys being clear about one thing: The JD(S) will crawl and end up in a distant third place. At no stage can the JD(S) form a government and defeat Congress, let alone shape Karnataka’s future. So, will any conscious voter make the mistake of wasting a vote on the JD(S)?” Modi said while addressing a massive crowd at Kengeri.</p>.<p class="bodytext">“No one will even ask about them. The JD(S) has committed a grave mistake by joining hands with highly extremist and communalist forces from other states,” Modi said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">This attack on the JD(S) surprised many in political circles. It could be seen as the BJP’s move to keep a distance from the JD(S), which the Congress believes is the saffron party’s ‘B’ team.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Modi then trained his guns on the ruling Congress. Predictions of a hung Assembly are the handiwork of the Congress, he claimed. “It only means that the BJP will form the government in Karnataka,” he said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">He tore into the Siddaramaiah-led Congress rule by listing out five ‘gifts’ Bengaluru had received in the last five years: From Silicon Valley to Valley of Sin, Garden City to Garbage City, Computer Capital to Crime Capital, Cosmopolitan Culture to Culture of Chaos and Startup Hub to Pothole Club.</p>.<p class="bodytext">“Should there be any delay in making a city smart, where there are smart citizens? This government has spent only Rs 12 crore and the remaining Rs 824 crore is lying idle,” he said. </p>.<p>The prime minister also ridiculed the Congress’ election manifesto, in which it has promised to make IT in Karnataka a $300-billion sector and biotechnology a $50-billion sector.</p>.<p>“Look at their courage. Arrey, at least make sure your lie is believable. Is this how you play with your manifesto?” he said, adding that they were “impossible” promises.</p>.<p>Modi termed the Congress as a gold medallist in corruption. He said departments and ministers were competing with each other in corruption.</p>.<p>He credited the citizens and the BJP with stalling the steel bridge project. “It was actually a ‘steal’ bridge, under which cash was to flow like the Ganga and reach ministers’ homes.”</p>
<p class="title">After showering praises on JD(S) supremo HD Deve Gowda, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday launched a stinging attack on the regional party, predicting that the JD(S) was “certain to lose” the May 12 Assembly election. </p>.<p class="bodytext">Modi had good words to say about Gowda at a rally in Udupi on Tuesday. Gowda returned the favour by praising Modi on Wednesday, which only fuelled speculation that the two parties were cosying up ahead of the polls. </p>.<p class="bodytext">“We have seen poll pundits and surveys being clear about one thing: The JD(S) will crawl and end up in a distant third place. At no stage can the JD(S) form a government and defeat Congress, let alone shape Karnataka’s future. So, will any conscious voter make the mistake of wasting a vote on the JD(S)?” Modi said while addressing a massive crowd at Kengeri.</p>.<p class="bodytext">“No one will even ask about them. The JD(S) has committed a grave mistake by joining hands with highly extremist and communalist forces from other states,” Modi said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">This attack on the JD(S) surprised many in political circles. It could be seen as the BJP’s move to keep a distance from the JD(S), which the Congress believes is the saffron party’s ‘B’ team.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Modi then trained his guns on the ruling Congress. Predictions of a hung Assembly are the handiwork of the Congress, he claimed. “It only means that the BJP will form the government in Karnataka,” he said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">He tore into the Siddaramaiah-led Congress rule by listing out five ‘gifts’ Bengaluru had received in the last five years: From Silicon Valley to Valley of Sin, Garden City to Garbage City, Computer Capital to Crime Capital, Cosmopolitan Culture to Culture of Chaos and Startup Hub to Pothole Club.</p>.<p class="bodytext">“Should there be any delay in making a city smart, where there are smart citizens? This government has spent only Rs 12 crore and the remaining Rs 824 crore is lying idle,” he said. </p>.<p>The prime minister also ridiculed the Congress’ election manifesto, in which it has promised to make IT in Karnataka a $300-billion sector and biotechnology a $50-billion sector.</p>.<p>“Look at their courage. Arrey, at least make sure your lie is believable. Is this how you play with your manifesto?” he said, adding that they were “impossible” promises.</p>.<p>Modi termed the Congress as a gold medallist in corruption. He said departments and ministers were competing with each other in corruption.</p>.<p>He credited the citizens and the BJP with stalling the steel bridge project. “It was actually a ‘steal’ bridge, under which cash was to flow like the Ganga and reach ministers’ homes.”</p>
