Karnataka election: Deve Gowda pours cold water on Modi's hopes; 10 updates

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Janata Dal (Secular) (JD-S) has forged an alliance in Karnataka for many constituencies, but still the Congress party will sweep back to power in the forthcoming assembly polls. "In many constituencies, the BJP and the JD-S have joined hands, but they still would not be able to defeat us as the people are with us," Siddaramaiah said, while talking to the reporters.

Further attacking BJP chief ministerial candidate B S Yeddyurappa, Siddaramaiah said that number of criminal cases has been registered against the former and such "corrupt" person will not get any support from the people.

He said that number of cases have been registered against Yeddyurappa and because of that, he want to come to power in Karnataka.

"Yeddyurappa does not even have minimum knowledge of law, I have no criminal charges against me. There are 23 cases against him, which is why he wants to be Chief Minister. The people will not support anybody who is corrupt," Siddaramaiah said.

Meanwhile, former prime minister Deve Gowda poured cold water on Modi's hopes of pre-poll alliance. Gowda insisted there was no possibility of his party tying up with the BJP ahead of the high stakes Karnataka assembly election. Distancing himself from the PM's statement, Deve Gowda said, "a Kannadiga had become the PM. How Siddaramaiah tried to demolish the Kannadigas pride, taking that as a background, he (PM Modi) said this is how Congress gives respect to Kannadigas, this does not mean a 'gathbandhan' (alliance)"

Rahul Gandhi protest a 'farce', removing Tytler 'admission of guilt': BJP

The BJP came down heavily on the protest led by Rahul Gandhi, calling it a 'farce' aimed at 'burnishing' the Congress chief's political career and to fast-track it. The BJP also said that the Congress' decision to keep the 1984 anti-Sikh riots accused Sajjan Kumar and Jagdish Tytler away from the main dais as its "admission of guilt"
BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra took a jibe at the opposition party's nation-wide fast against the alleged caste violence and communalism, saying its leaders had come to the Mahatma Gandhi's memorial to talk about non-violence but the presence of Kumar and Tytler exposed the party's "real violent" face.
Accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led BJP government at the Centre of disturbing social harmony in the country, Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Monday led his party’s nation-wide fast at Raj Ghat in New Delhi. A statement from the party said that Gandhi had directed all party workers across India to observe a fast in their respective states and district headquarters.