Daijiworld Media Network-Kalaburagi (RJP)

Kalaburagi, Aug 14: “The decision as to who will be the next chief minister if the Congress returns to power will be taken by legislators and the party high command and not by party leader B Janardhana Poojary,” said chief minister Siddaramaiah on Sunday, August 13.

He was speaking to reporters at Aland helipad near here.

“Let Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP national president Amit Shah or anybody else come and stay in Bengaluru, the Congress will not be affected by it. No matter what strategies Modi and Shah devise for the next Assembly elections, the Congress will not be affected by them. The BJP is opposed to social justice and people from Ahinda will never go with the BJP,” he added.

Income Tax raids

Referring to I-T raids on the houses and offices of the Congress leaders Lakshmi Hebbalkar, Ramesh Jarkiholi, Govindaraju, D K Shivakumar and others, Siddaramaiah said, “We are not opposed to Income Tax raids. But we are against politically-motivated raids. The Congress party is being targeted through I-T raids which is condemnable. Are the BJP leaders Sathya Harishchandras? Why is it that there are no I-T raids on their houses?”

Upendra’s new party

Speaking about actor Upendra’s plans to launch a new political party, Siddaramaiah said, “There is nothing wrong in it. Everyone has an opportunity to float his own political party in democracy.”