Bagalkot (Karnataka), April 3 (IANS) Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said that the BJP is not the high command of the Congress party and launched a strong attack on the BJP and Union Minister of State V. Somanna.

Speaking to the media during his visit to Bagalkot to campaign for the Congress candidate, Siddaramaiah said Somanna is a “minister without work” in the BJP and that no files are being routed to him.

Responding to Somanna’s statement that the Chief Minister has been campaigning for five days, fearing defeat and would remain in office only for another one-and-a-half months, Siddaramaiah said Somanna himself has no time to campaign.

He alleged that BJP leaders are not campaigning actively as they are aware of their likely defeat in the constituency. He added that Somanna has no authority to comment on the Chief Minister’s position and is not the Congress high command.

He alleged that BJP leaders are experts in spreading falsehoods and do not act according to their words.

The Chief Minister said he does not wish to respond extensively to such statements and claimed BJP leaders are making baseless remarks out of fear of losing in Bagalkot.

Referring to expelled BJP MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal, Siddaramaiah said the BJP has brought back a leader who was expelled from the party and deployed him for campaigning, calling it an example of double standards. He added that the BJP is in a poor state in Karnataka.

On the issue of increasing Lok Sabha seats, Siddaramaiah said seats should be increased based on population, but there should be no discrimination.

He cautioned against giving more seats to northern states and fewer to southern states.

Speaking about the shortage of LPG cylinders, he said the central government must take responsibility and act, as the state only handles distribution.

Reacting to reports of auto drivers planning to protest in front of the Food Minister’s house, he said they should instead lay siege to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s residence.

Responding to Karnataka BJP president B.Y. Vijayendra’s statement that bypoll results would impact the Chief Minister’s position, Siddaramaiah asserted that the Congress would win both seats and therefore there would be no such impact.

On allegations that minorities were given excessive allocation in the state budget, Siddaramaiah questioned whether minorities are not citizens of the state.

He said minorities constitute about 14 per cent of the population and have been given funds like others.

Reiterating his stance, Siddaramaiah said BJP leaders have no authority to comment on Congress’ internal matters and said Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge and Priyanka Gandhi are the high command of the Congress party.

Responding to the BJP’s allegations of misuse of power and funds, he said if there is any such misuse, it is being done by the BJP.

–IANS

mka/uk