The Aryavarth Express
Agency (Karnataka): Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah dismissed Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde’s claims about toppling the Congress government in Karnataka, labeling them as illusions and daydreams. Siddaramaiah emphasized that none of his MLAs are “ready to get sold” and assured that the Congress government in Karnataka is stable.
During a campaign in Maharashtra’s Satara, Shinde suggested that his experience in toppling the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government in Maharashtra could be applied in Karnataka after the Lok Sabha polls. Shinde’s comments refer to the 2022 split in Shiv Sena that led to the fall of the MVA government, with Shinde and his MLAs joining the BJP.
“He (Shinde) is under an illusion, he is daydreaming. At no cost they will be able to (pull down) our government in Karnataka through ‘Operation Kamala’ as they did in Maharashtra, because NDA is going to lose in Parliamentary polls this time,” Siddaramaiah told reporters here.
Deputy Chief Minister and state Congress President D K Shivakumar countered Shinde’s statements by asserting that the Maharashtra government led by Shinde would lose its strength post the Lok Sabha polls. Shivakumar expressed doubts about the Maharashtra government’s survival and predicted that the original Shiv Sena and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) would regroup with Congress to form a new government.
“Why did Modi speak about Uddhav Thackeray (Shiv Sena (UTB) chief), because Uddhav Thackeray has strength…..I’m saying this on record that after this Lok Sabha polls, Maharashtra government will lose its strength. All the MLAs of original Shiv Sena and NCP will go back and there will be original Shiv Sena and NCP back, and both parties along with Congress will come together and there will be our government once again. That’s why they are afraid,” he said.
Siddaramaiah dismissed the possibility of a similar attempt to topple the Karnataka government after the Lok Sabha polls. He mentioned that the BJP has been attempting to destabilize the government for the past year without success. He reiterated that his legislators are loyal and not susceptible to being bought.
Asked if there is a possibility for such an attempt after the Lok Sabha polls, he said: “They have failed after making such attempts, why will they attempt once again? For the last one year they have been making such attempts and have been failing. According to my information, none of our legislators are ready to get sold. There is no chance for Maharashtra-like changes to take place here.”
Siddaramaiah also stated that the Congress-led INDI Alliance will win the Parliamentary polls and form the next government, with Congress winning at least 20 out of the total 28 Lok Sabha seats in Karnataka. He suggested that the BJP’s statements about toppling the government stem from their lack of confidence in winning the elections.
“They (BJP) have realised that they will lose in the Parliamentary polls and hence they are making such statements. They don’t have confidence about winning in the polls, even Narendra Modi (PM) does not have confidence and hence he is speaking whatever comes to his mouth,” he added.
Responding to whether Karnataka Congress has a leader like Shinde who could lead a similar operation, Shivakumar confidently denied the presence of such individuals within their ranks. He dismissed any concerns about internal power struggles, emphasizing the unity and stability of the Congress government in Karnataka.
Asked whether there is a Shinde-like leader in Karnataka Congress, for the Shinde model operation to replicate here, the KPCC chief said, “they may have such people, there are no such people here on our side…”
Shinde’s statements have gained significance as the BJP and JD(S) leaders in the state have repeatedly predicted the collapse of the Congress government after the Lok Sabha polls. However, both Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar remain confident in their government’s stability and the loyalty of their legislators.