Bengaluru:  Five days ahead of the crucial polls in the state, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has sent a 100-crore defamation notice to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP president Amit Shah and party leader BS Yeddyurappa for accusing him of corruption and defaming his image in the eye of the public.

Earlier, during the day, he challenged Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP's Chief Ministerial candidate B.S. Yeddyurappa to an open debate with him.

"Prime Minister Modi is deliberately confusing Karnataka voters with his bombastic speeches on non-issues. All hot air and no substance. My contest is not with him. It is with Yeddyurappa," tweeted Siddaramaiah.


"I challenge him to an open debate on issues on a single platform. Will he accept? Modi is also welcome," he added.

Siddaramaiah said: "I will speak extempore. They can bring paper. Come on BSY 'avare' let people see who they are voting for beyond the smokescreen created by hot air from Modi-Shah-Yogi (Modi-Amit Shah-Yogi Adityanath) team," he added.

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Meanwhile, 43% of survey respondents in the ABP News Opinion Poll believed Siddaramaiah's governance has been 'Good' till now. According to the survey, he remained the first choice of chief minister.

Karnataka Assembly elections are scheduled for May 12. Results to come on May 15.