Karnataka election: Anti-incumbency will negate PM Narendra Modi’s popularity, says Siddaramaiah

BENGALURU: Congress Legislature Party leader and former chief minister Siddaramaiah, who is in the vanguard of the party’s bid to return to the helm in Karnataka, says issues like price rise, corruption, unemployment, the economy and farm crisis besides maladministration will weigh heavily against BJP when people vote to elect a new government on May 10. In an interview with TOI, he said JD(S) will not get more than 25 seats this time. Excerpts:
Also See: Karnataka Election 2023 Live Updates
How important is this election for Congress both in the state and at the national level?
A victory for Congress is necessary to save the people of Karnataka from the clutches of a corrupt BJP government. Nationally, a win will be a stepping stone for the party’s rejuvenation and resurgence ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. So, the entire party is involved in this election.

Why do you think Congress will win?
Mainly because of the failure of BJP governments in the state and Centre. They have failed on all parameters. Prices of essential commodities are rising, unemployment rate is at its peak, farmers and the poor are in distress. All sections are unhappy with BJP. Above all, corruption is rampant. In my 40 years of public life, I have not seen such a corrupt government. People are fed up and they want to throw them out. There is a visible wave in favour of Congress.

You had made similar claims in 2018 but the results proved otherwise…
In 2018 some things went against us. First, there was resentment over non-implementation of the Justice Sadashiva Commission report on internal reservation for Scheduled Castes. Second, the separate Lingayat religion issue worked against us. This time the situation is different. People are remembering our government’s performance and comparing it with the present government.

But the BJP government has provided internal reservation. Besides, the quota of SCs and STs has been increased. Don’t you think it will help BJP?
No. BJP has taken these decisions keeping elections in mind. After the increase of reservations for SCs/STs, the state has breached the 50% limit fixed by the Supreme Court. If somebody questions it in court, the new Act will not stand scrutiny. Only its inclusion in Schedule 9 of the Constitution will protect it. But BJP, despite being at the helm in the state and Centre, did not do this. It shows BJP is not honest about reservation and people from SC and ST communities will see through their evil design.
Will Congress take a re-look at the reservation policy if it forms the government?
We definitely will. We are not against increasing reservation for any community, but it should be done with honesty and by following legal procedure. For example, the government has abolished the 4% Muslim quota. On what basis was this done? Did the backward classes commission recommend this? Did Lingayats and Vokkaligas ask the government to take away Muslims’ quota and give it to them? We will set these things right.
In 2018, all pre-poll surveys had given Congress an edge. But PM Modi’s campaign blitzkrieg in the last 15 days tilted the scales. Do you think Modi will do the same now?
Not at all. People are fed up with anti-people and anti-poor policies of BJP’s double engine governments. The Modi government has failed to meet people’s aspirations, especially when it comes to containing inflation.
A bag of DAP costs Rs 1,350 now while it was just Rs 450 during the Manmohan Singh government. I am not saying Modi is not a popular leader but so strong is antiincumbency against BJP in Karnataka that it will negate his popularity.
Modi is said to be planning 20 rallies in Karnataka…
Let him visit Karnataka 100 times and address any number of rallies but he cannot change voters’ minds. This is a state election and local issues play on the minds of voters. BJP’s Hindutva and hate politics will also not work.