Karnataka Elections: CM Basavaraj Bommai Discards Pre-poll Surveys Giving Edge To Congress

Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said that BJP will return to power in the state with a “comfortable majority” without any support from the Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S).

Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Friday said Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will return to power in the state with a “ comfortable majority” and without any support from the Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S). He discarded the pre-poll surveys giving an edge to the opposition Congress party in the upcoming assembly elections on May 10. However, he said the party high command and its Parliamentary Board will decide if he will continue to be the CM in case the BJP forms the next government.

In an interview to PTI, the chief minister said, “There was no edge to Congress at all. We know how surveys are made. I am expecting a comfortable majority.”

He also added that the saffron party will not require any support from the JD(S). Bommai said, as quoted by PTI, “No chance at all (of taking JD(S) support). We will get an absolute majority.”

The BJP leader also hit out at the Congress party for plunging the election discourse to a “very low-level”. 

CM Bommai also stated that former chief minister Jagadish Shettar will be defeated this time. Shettar had defected to the Congress party after he was denied a BJP ticket to contest from Hubli-Dharwad Central.

Commenting on Shettar’e exit, Bommai denied any major impact on Lingayat votes in the state. He said there will not be any impact and his party will win Shettar’s seat. Lingayats comprise over 17 per cent of the state’s population.

He further said, as quoted by PTI, "Looking into his background and track record, it is neither acceptable to BJP nor to some of the Congress supporters. So, it is totally not at all an organic shift for Shettar.”

Meanwhile, Bommai also spoke on the caste-based quota and said internal reservation under OBCs and other things were a long pending demand. He added, "I have addressed" them.

Bommai said many people were not able to enjoy the benefit earlier because the reservation was not given as per the population. Those sections of people have got hopes now with internal reservation, he said.

"We have recommended the internal reservation, ultimately the Government of India has to take a call,” he was quoted as saying by PTI.

Bommai said, "Everytime, they (people) have voted for me. They have love and affection more than political relations with all the families. So, I am very confident that all sections of the society and all castes will vote for me," as reported by PTI.