Karnataka assembly elections: Siddaramaiah-BJP face off over north Indian "imports" jibe

Over Siddaramaiah's "imports" comment, the BJP said his attempt to divide North and South India is "disgusting".

Karanataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah with Prime Minister Narendra Modi (Image: PTI/ FILE)

Bengaluru: Mocking at the Karnataka BJP unit, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday called Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Uttar Pradesh counterpart Yogi Adityanath "North Indian imports" in the May 12 election campaign and said it had no leaders in the state. Siddaramaiah also said BJP's chief ministerial candidate B S Yeddyurappa had been reduced to a "dummy."

The #ReddyBrothers ran Republic of Bellary in 2008-12, made @BSYBJP a puppet CM, bought MLAs under Operation Kamala, kept them in resorts & looted 35,000 Cr. of iron ore. Karnataka suffered humiliation of being called “Most corrupt State”

They are back again to loot Karnataka. https://t.co/tVYuHy8Dde — Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) April 25, 2018

"@BJP4Karnataka by waiting for North Indian imports like PM Modi, UP CM Adityanath is admitting they have no leaders in the state. They have reduced their CM face @BSYBJP to a dummy," Siddaramaiah tweeted. He further said the Prime Minister may come and go, but here it is a battle between him and and Yeddyurappa, and the" saffron party knows who is winning in the May 12 Assembly polls. In a blistering attack over Siddaramaiah's "imports" comment, the BJP said his attempt to divide North and South India is "disgusting" and added it understands his anxiety of being""rejected" by his constituents. "Imports? How much low can you stoop Mr. CM? Your attempt at North-South divide is disgusting. But we understand your anxiety. While you are rejected by your own constituents, PM Modi has a pan India appeal. It's time you learn a thing or "two about leadership when he's here," BJP tweeted. Indirectly hitting out at Sonia Gandhi, the BJP asked Siddaramaiah what he had to say about occupants of 10, Janpath, when he is calling Modi and Adityanath as North Indian imports. "Well, speaking of imports, what do you have to say about the occupants of 10 JP? We can understand your frustration & desperation Mr.CM. When you realize PM Modi is more popular than you are even in your own Chamundeshwari, these kind of outbursts are natural," the BJP tweeted. The BJP also targeted Karnataka Congress in-charge K C Venugopal by tweeting, "Now, we think it is time we teach CM definition of 'Import': bring (goods or services) into a country from abroad." "For ex: when you get Italian toiletries for your Bengaluru bathroom, it's import. Not 'Import': When you get rape accused KC Venu from Kerala as Karnataka Incharge," it tweeted. Venugopal, who had allegedly sexually assaulted the prime accused in the solar panel scam case Saritha Nair in Kerala, had earlier dismissed the charge, saying he was in public life for the last 40 years and that there was no black spot in his political career.