Bengaluru: The Congress party, banking on its five guarantees to secure a majority of seats in the state during the Lok Sabha elections, stated that it would continue to these promises. Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, cautioned voters against supporting the BJP, said that the saffron party would abandon the guarantees if it assumes power.
Shivakumar alleged that BJP state president BY Vijayendra had threatened to discontinue the guarantees. “We are steadfast in our commitment to the guarantees and anticipate remaining in power for nine more years, winning the next Assembly elections too,” he said, projecting that the party would secure over 20 seats in the state during the Lok Sabha elections.
He said there is Congress party wave in the state due to successful implementation of guarantees. “The entire country is looking at Karnataka. During my recent tour of Kerala, I observed that Congress will secure 20 seats there as well,” he said.
Regarding the perceived rivalry between him and JDS state president HD Kumaraswamy for leadership among Vokkaligas, Shivakumar clarified that he does not wish to confine himself to being solely a Vokkaliga leader, but rather sees himself as a Congress leader serving as the KPCC president. “While I am born a Vokkaliga, I do not identify solely as a Vokkaliga leader,” he said.
Asserting confidence in the stability of the Congress government, which currently holds 135 MLAs, Shivakumar assured BIP leaders that the government would not collapse under any circumstances. He avoided speculation about assuming the chief minister’s post post the Lok Sabha elections in the state, stating, “The I.N.D.I.A bloc will assume power at the Centre, and we will decide on our PM candidate following the election results.”
