'Shivakumar, Siddaramaiah Will Stop Breathing After...': BJP's Yediyurappa On Karnataka Polls

The ex-CM stated that Congress leader Siddaramaiah will not run from Kolar as previously declared, but will instead run from the old Mysuru region.

Former Karnataka chief minister BS Yediyurappa (File Photo)

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Former Karnataka chief minister and BJP top leader BS Yediyurappa claimed on Monday that Congress leaders DK Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah are still breathing, but their breath will stop after the assembly elections, predicting that the BJP will win power in Karnataka.

Karnataka | Congress means corruption. A few of their leaders like DK Shivakumar & Siddaramaiah are still breathing, but their breath will stop after the Assembly elections. BJP will come to power in Karnataka: Former CM & BJP leader Yediyurappa pic.twitter.com/mJiz3fqyAp

— ANI (@ANI) January 23, 2023

He also offered an intriguing prediction for the impending Karnataka elections this year. The ex-CM stated that Congress leader Siddaramaiah will not run from Kolar as previously declared, but will instead run from the old Mysuru region.

Speaking to reporters, BS Yediyurappa said, “Let me reveal one thing today. Do not think that I'm making a baseless prediction but Siddaramaiah will not contest Kolar for any reason. He is playing a drama and is hardly trying to go back to Mysuru," the former CM also said that BJP will come up with a strategy to defeat Siddaramaiah in upcoming elections.

"He is playing political circus and drama, according to me, he will not contest from there (Kolar) and may try to go back to Mysuru, if that happens, we will come up with a strategy,” Siddaramaiah added, as per a report by news agency PTI. 

In a recent public meeting, Siddaramaiah stated, "Today among the people of Kolar, I would like to announce that Kolar will be the location for my election battle." Siddaramaiah had previously ruled out running from Badami, the seat he won in the 2018 election. He also stated that his seat will be finalised only by the Congress party's high command, the PTI report said.

Siddaramaiah was elected to the Assembly on a Lok Dal Party ticket from Chamundeshwari in 1983. He has won this seat five times and been defeated three times.

Following delimitation, Siddaramaiah represented neighbouring Varuna until he left the seat for his son Dr Yatindra (MLA) in the 2018 elections and returned to his old constituency of Chamundeshwari.

Siddaramaiah has stated multiple times that he will no longer contest from Chamundeshwari, and if Yediyurappa's accusations are correct, he may look for Varuna, leaving his son Yathindra without a seat.

It is no secret that Siddaramaiah, who served as Chief Minister from 2013 to 2018, is eyeing a second term if his party wins the 2019 Assembly elections.

With State Congress president D K Shivakumar also having similar aspirations, the two leaders have begun a game of one-upmanship.

(With Inputs From Agencies)