Ruling out the possibility of post-poll alliance with the Janata Dal(S), the former Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa has said that the BJP is getting overwhelming response across the State and exuded the confidence of the party winning 150 seats in the Assembly elections.
Speaking to media persons at the helipad in Aland taluk on Monday, Mr. Yeddyurappa said, “We have had a bitter experience of supporting the Janata Dal(S) in the past; there is no question of an alliance with it now.” Reacting to an advertisement by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in the print media challenging Mr. Yeddyurappa to give a date and time for an open debate on the achievements of the government, Mr. Yeddyurappa replied, “On Sunday, a news channel organised an open debate programme between both of us [Mr. Yeddyurappa and Mr. Siddaramaiah], while I reached the place in time, Mr. Siddaramaiah did not turn up.”
Addressing a rally at Sri Ram Market in Aland town, Mr. Yeddyurappa made a scathing attack on Aland MLA B.R. Patil and told voters: “I will be satisfied only after Mr. Patil is defeated and loses his deposits in the elections.”
Mr. Yeddyurappa accused Mr. Patil and Mr. Siddaramaiah of dividing the Lingayat community to ensure the BJP’s defeat. “Take my word, I will be sworn in as the next Chief Minister on May 17,” he added.
After the election results on May 15, the Congress will disappear from the State, and Mr. Siddaramaiah will be responsible for it, Mr. Yeddyurappa said.
Criticising Mr. Siddaramaiah for the alleged misuse of the Anti-Corruption Bureau and CID to get a clean chit in FIRs lodged against him and his Cabinet colleagues, Mr. Yeddyurappa warned that the BJP soon after coming to power will reopen all such cases against him [Mr. Siddaramaiah].