Daijiworld Media Network - Shivamogga

Shivamogga, Apr 20: In reference to former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda’s candidature, BJP leader and former Karnataka chief minister B S Yeddyurappa said that Gowda is nursing his ambitions of becoming the Prime Minister of the country, or at least an advisor to the PM.

In Karnataka, out of the 28 parliamentary constituencies, Congress and JD(S) are contesting on 21 and 7 seats, respectively.

In an exclusive interview to ANI, Yeddyurappa said, “Deve Gowda is fighting on 7 seats in Karnataka and has ambitions of becoming the Prime Minister or an advisor to the Prime Minister.”

“Despite all the divisive tactics by the Congress party, BJP emerged as the single largest party in the Assembly elections by winning 104 seats. In this election too we are hundred per cent confident that we will not only win Shimoga Lok Sabha seat with a huge margin but also win more than 22 seats in the state,” said Yeddyurappa.

With Former Chief Minister’s sons, Yeddyurappa’s son B Y Raghavendra and former CM late S Bangarappa’s son Madhu Bangarappa contesting from a state, Shimoga has become a high profile constituency. B Y Raghavendra has been campaigning extensively and told ANI that despite the state machinery being used against the BJP in his constituency, the people are with him. The JD(S) nominee Madhu Bangarappa has a great influence among Ediga community because of his late father’s popularity in the constituency.

Stating the unpredictability of JD(S)-Congress alliance in Karnataka if BJP wins the Lok Sabha elections, Yeddyurappa said, “After results, anything may happen,” claiming that “over 20 Congress MLAs are not ready to help the Chief Minister, they are not happy with him”.

Mentioning about the Veerashaiva-Lingayat issue, Yeddyurappa accused former Congress president Sonia Gandhi of hatching a conspiracy with the local Congress leadership to divide the Lingayat community in the state.

“Being the head of a national party and claiming the legacy of Nehru family, she should not have stooped to such a level because we have high regards for Nehru and his family. Though it is not new for Congress people to involve in such conspiracies,” he added.

While questioning Kumaraswamy silence on his alleged claims that he knew about the ‘Pulwama terrorist attack’ two years back, Yeddyurappa said “If he knew about the attack two years back, he should have informed it to the police or to the President of India so that such a tragic incident and the death of our more than 40 soldiers could have been prevented,” he said.

He also refused the accusation pointed on him by the Congress in the ‘Yeddyurappa diary’ series wherein he was alleged to have paid Rs 1,800 crore to some top BJP leaders, He said “If there is even a small amount of truth in it, I will retire from politics. Officials and experts have checked my handwriting and signature and have come out openly saying that it was not my signature at all. It was not a diary but only 2-3 loose sheets.”

When asked about hsi comments over Balakot air strikes, Yeddyurappa said, “I did not say that Balakot air strike will help us to win 22 seats, I was misquoted by the media. The credit will go to the military,” he said.