Separate religion for Lingayats not a poll issue: Siddaramaiah

The separate religious status to Lingayats is not a poll issue, said Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.

Speaking to the media here on Tuesday, Siddaramaiah said, “I am neither a hero nor a zero in the religious tag for Lingayat issue. There was a demand for separate religious status and the recommendation has been sent to the Centre.”

On JD(S) Supremo H D Deve Gowda’s statements that he will disown his son State JD(S) President H D Kumarswamy if the latter joins hands with BJP post-election, Siddaramaiah said that in 2006 too, Deve Gowda had made similar comments.

"Deve Gowda had stated Kumaraswamy would form a government with BJP only over his dead body. He (Gowda) makes such statements to woo minority votes,” the CM said.

Siddaramaiah said that the pre-poll survey by C-Fore was in favour of the party. “However, this is not final. Surveys sometimes are in favour and on other occasions against. Hence, we don’t trust the surveys. We believe in real factors,” he said replying to a question.

Reacting to the former chief minister and union minister D V Sadananda Gowda’s statement that a thousand cases would be registered against the Congress government if Lokayukta was present, Siddaramaiah said when Prime Minister Narendra Modi was the chief minister of Gujarat he didn’t appoint Lokayukta for four years.

“Though four years have passed since Modi has become prime minister, no Lokpal has been appointed,” he said and added ‘Doesn’t Sadananda Gowda know this?”

Covert alliance

“BJP and JD(S) have a covert poll alliance and the JD(S) candidate from Chamundeshwari G T Deve Gowda himself has openly spoken about this. BJP has fielded an unknown person from the constituency,” he added.

Siddaramaiah said despite Modi and Amit Shah campaigning in the state, BJP will not come to power. “I have more chances of becoming CM,” he said replying to a question.