Mysuru, April 17 (). Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai is unfazed by leaders leaving the party angry over not getting tickets for the May 10 assembly elections. He said on Monday that the BJP is a community and cadre-based party and it will win 130 seats, an absolute majority in the 224-member state assembly.
Speaking to reporters at the Mysuru airport, Bommai said some leaders have left the party, but since the BJP is not a person-based party like others, the defection of some leaders will have no impact.
Bommai said the Congress did not have candidates for around 60 constituencies, so it declared candidates for only 150 constituencies and remained silent without releasing the list for all 224 seats. There is no point in giving Congress tickets to defectors in BJP strongholds.
Reacting to former chief minister Jagadish Shettar’s defection to the Congress, Bommai said the senior leader was a very simple and good person, but unfortunately fell into bad company.
Bommai said, social reformer Basavanna had preached not to befriend bad people, but Shettar, who was in the company of good people, went into the company of bad people.
On the BJP fielding state minister V. Somanna from the Lingayat community against Congress stalwart and former chief minister Siddaramaiah in Varuna constituency, Bommai said the contest is tough but the community is pro-BJP.
A day after the date for withdrawal of nomination papers passed, Bommai said, “There will be a surprise result from this constituency due to political and social polarisation.” That is why a senior and experienced leader like Somanna has been fielded in this constituency. We have taken this seat seriously and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will start the election campaign.
The chief minister also said that he did not know why the Congress had not declared a candidate for the Shiggaon assembly constituency from where Bommai is contesting.
The Chief Minister said, I have already filed my nomination and I have full faith in the voters of the new constituency. My opponent is unimportant, as mandate and people’s support is very important. There is no shortage in this.
SGK
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