Mysore (Karnataka):

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday said that while the Bloc India may not get an absolute majority in the Lok Sabha elections, the NDA will not get enough seats to form the government at the centre.

Contrary to the hopes expressed by the BJP slogan “Abki baar 400-paar”, Siddaramaiah predicted that the Center would form a “BJP-less government” as there was an “undercurrent” against the saffron party in the country.

In an exclusive interview with PTI Videos, Siddaramaiah declared: “There will be no BJP-led NDA government at the Centre. There is an undercurrent across the country. There is a phenomenon called the silent voter phenomenon. You will see when the results come out arrive.”

“According to my information, surveys related to the BJP show that they will cross over 200 seats. They will not come to power on their own,” the chief minister said.

“After the elections, political parties will realign themselves. Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and other leaders of southern regional parties will form the government together,” he explain.

Explaining the reason for the BJP’s lack of numbers this time, Siddaramaiah said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has not fulfilled any of his poll promises since 2014. Furthermore, unemployment and rising prices are two major problems today, he added.

Talking about Congress’ poll prospects in Karnataka, Siddaramaiah said the situation is favourable. “As far as Karnataka is concerned, this will be good for us. We will retain the same vote share as in the last assembly election. We will win 15 to 20 seats in Karnataka,” the CM said.

On the alliance between the BJP and the Janata Dal (Secular), Siddaramaiah compared former chief minister and JD(S) No. 2 HD Kumaraswamy to Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar Kumar). “Nitish Kumar is an opportunistic politician. Likewise, Kumaraswamy is also an opportunist politician. The BJP is a communal party and now the JD(S) has also become a communal party,” He said.

Siddaramaiah said that the state BJP has no leadership and predicted that the JD(S) will merge with the BJP in the future. He also claimed that some JD(S) leaders were willing to join the Congress, but he refused to divulge details.

The BJP and JD(S) formed an alliance in Karnataka in September last year. The BJP is contesting 25 LS seats, while the JD(S) is contesting 3 seats in the state.

The BJP has fielded Dr CN Manjunath, JD(S) patriarch and son-in-law of former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda, against DK Suresh, a three-time MP and brother of deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar, in the Bengaluru rural constituency.

Asked about the BJP’s allegations that Karnataka’s finances are not in good shape as the Congress government is trying to implement the five assembly poll guarantees, Siddaramaiah dismissed the same, saying the state was fully in financial discipline In the range.

“Our tax collections have improved and property registration is also generating good revenue for us as guidance increases,” he explained. “Development work has not stopped. We will fulfill our promise and all guaranteed schemes will continue till the end of term. If we get the mandate again, all schemes will continue.” Chief Minister claims that BJP-led Center deprived Karnataka share of the tax refund as it fears the Congress model in the state.

“They (BJP) wanted us to fail. We had to approach the Delhi dharna and approach the Supreme Court. Rs 430 crore was raised from Karnataka but only around Rs 50,000 crore was given to us. This is not Is it unfair?” he asked.

Siddaramaiah claimed that despite the severe drought the state is facing, the Center has not released even a single rupee.

“The Disaster Management Act has clearly laid out guidelines and we have every right to ask for relief, but they (the Center) are not giving us funds. The Supreme Court has directed the central government to resolve the matter within 15 days. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in Ka Nataka lied about the procedures that were duly followed,” he alleged.

Siddaramaiah said the IT department’s target is the Congress. “The BJP has received hundreds of millions of rupees through electoral bonds but they have not paid a single rupee of tax, but the income tax department is targeting the Congress and demanding huge tax collection,” he said.

“All central agencies are supposed to be independent agencies but they are puppets in the hands of the home ministry,” he claimed.

Replying to speculation on whether he has to give up the chief ministership to Shivakumar, Siddaramaiah said: “If the high command decides that I should continue, I will continue. Otherwise, I will follow the high command’s instructions Act on the decision.” He also reiterated that he would not remain in electoral politics four years later but would continue to be actively involved in politics.

Siddaramaiah was sworn in as chief minister on May 20, 2023, after the Congress party ousted the BJP from power in a landslide victory.

There was a fierce competition between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar for the chief minister’s post. The Congress convinced Shivakumar to accept the post of deputy chief minister, but reports suggested that a compromise was reached and Shivakumar would take over as chief minister in two-and-a-half years. This matter has not yet been officially confirmed by the party.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)