BJP’s 2+1 is 2 Reddys + 1 Yeddyurappa, says Siddaramaiah

CM takes to Twitter to respond to digs

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah took to Twitter through the day to respond to the digs Prime Minister Narendra Modi took at him and the Congress at his three rallies on Tuesday.

Minutes after the “2+1” jibe, alluding to he contesting from two seats and his son contesting from another, Mr. Siddaramaiah tweeted that the Prime Minister’s 2+1 formula was “2 Reddys and 1 B.S. Yeddyurappa”.

“Today PM avoided talking about his complicity in closing CBI cases against the Reddy brothers. Instead he spoke about some 2+1 formula. Here is the explanation to his formula to win election. 2 Reddys+1 Yeddy,” he tweeted.

The BJP has been embarrassed recently for its truck with the controversial Reddy brothers, and allegations of corruption against Mr. Yeddyurappa has been a big handle for the Congress against the BJP, this election season.

Responding to the Prime Minister’s jibe that Mr. Siddaramaiah was contesting in the second seat as he feared defeat, the Chief Minister tweeted: “Was it fear that drove you to contest from 2 parliamentary constituencies (Varanasi & Vadodara) Mr. PM? Of course you are a 56 inch man, you would have some clever explanation!! Forget 2 seats, Sir. Worry about the fact that your party will not cross 60–70!”

Mr. Siddaramaiah also challenged Mr. Modi for “an open debate on a single platform on crime and law and order situation in Karnataka vis-à-vis BJP-governed States”. This came after Mr. Modi claimed in his Udupi rally that crime was on the rise in the State and as “the nation was following ease of doing business, the State government had created an environment where there was ease of doing murder.”

‘Why no rally in Chamarajanagar?’

Mr. Siddaramaiah at an election rally in Navalgund, Dharwad district, on Tuesday posed a question as to why Mr. Modi did not visit the district centre of Chamarajanagar, but instead held his rally in a village nearby, Santemarahalli. “He has fallen prey to superstition that he would lose power if he visits Chamarajanagar. It is not enough to have a 56-inch chest, but one should also have a heart that beats for the poor,” he said.