Amid polling in the Karnataka Assembly elections on Wednesday, president of the Congress state unit and party's candidate from Kanakpura, DK Shivakumar was seen driving an auto in his constituency. The Congress party has a stronghold in Kanakapura where Shivakumar is a seven-time MLA. In the 2018 Assembly Election, he won the seat defeating Janata Dal (Secular) - JD(S) candidate - by a huge margin of 79,909 votes.
Shivakumar dismissed a post-poll alliance with Janata Dal (Secular) JD(S) expressing confidence that his party will get an absolute majority in the 224-seat assembly, as reported by the news agency ANI. "Here the issue is price rise, corruption, good governance and development. There are no chances of alliance with JD(S). We will form the government on our own," Shivakumar told reporters after casting his vote here in elections to Karnataka Legislative Assembly, as quoted by ANI.
Earlier in the day, former Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah too expressed confidence that the Congress will secure an absolute majority, saying it could get 130-150 seats. Shivakumar further appealed to the people of Karnataka to consider "inflation" in the BJP-ruled state and come out and vote.
"I am appealing to everyone, please cast a vote by looking at our gas cylinders. I have advised all my leaders to put a gas cylinder outside the booth and put a garland on it,"Shivakumar said, as quoted by ANI. The Karnataka Congress chief had a day ago performed aarti of a gas cylinder., a video of which was posted on the Congress Party handle.
The Karnataka Congress president also urged young voters to vote for a "change" in the State and expressed confidence that the people of Karnataka will give Congress 141 seats. "Today young voters have a great opportunity, they will vote for a change. They know about the price rise and corruption in the state and I'm sure that they will go for a change and give us 141 seats," he said.