Daijiworld Media Network - Kalaburagi (SP)

Kalaburagi, Sep 30: "Power is not inherited from the forefathers. People decide about the people to whom the power should go. No one should lament over loss of power, nor one should dream about becoming chief minister before they actually become one," said former chief minister and leader of the Congress legislature party, Siddaramaiah.

Speaking at the talent reward programme of Kurubara Sangha in the city on Sunday, he said that he had functioned for five full years as the chief minister. "Naturally this has not gone well with some people. When people bless us with power, it is our duty to serve them. Even if we do not get power, we have to continue to serve the society in our own way. I have always followed straightforward politics, and never indulged in conspiracy in politics," he claimed.

Siddaramaiah said that H D Deve Gowda and Kumaraswamy have already announced that they will go alone in the bypoll. "Therefore, we will fight the bypoll alone. BJP is ruling the state with the support of just 105 legislators. The government will fall after the bypoll," he explained.

Siddaramaiah said that there are no difference between original Congressmen and others in the party. He said that the notion that he was being sidelined in the party is false. "Just because some leaders have differences of opinion, we are not enemies. Congress is not in the grip of someone, and all leaders jointly take decisions and even workers contribute in decision making," he stated.

He blamed the election commission for announcing election 65 days in advance for the benefit of disqualified legislators. He however felt that in spite of these tactics, Congress will bag most of these seats.