Siddaramaiah taunts ‘north Indian imports’ of BJP, saffron party hits back with Italian card
The campaign for the Karnataka elections seems to be heating up, and leading the attack from the front for the Congress is Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. On Wednesday, the CM took a dig at the BJP’s central-leadership focused campaign in the state, and called Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath as ‘north Indian imports.’
Siddaramaiah tweeted: “...by waiting for North Indian imports like PM Modi, UPCM Adityanath, [BJP Karnataka] is admitting they have no leaders in the state. They have reduced their CM face BS Yeddyurappa to a dummy. PM may come & go. Here it is Siddaramaiah vs BSY & you know who is winning.”
. @BJP4Karnataka by waiting for North Indian imports like PM Modi, UPCM Adityanath is admiting they have no leaders in the state. They have reduced their CM face @BSYBJP to a dummy.
— Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) April 25, 2018
PM may come & go. Here it is Siddaramaiah vs BSY & you know who is winning.#CongressMathomme https://t.co/IatRRstyAe
The import dig follows BJP’s plan to bring in their central leaders for the last phase of campaigning in the state. And while the Chief Minister’s comment is facing criticism from many quarters, the BJP has come back at him with their own dig – about ‘imports at 10 Janpath.’
The party’s Karnataka wing tweeted: “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.”
Further giving ‘definitions’ of import and ‘not import’ on their handle, the BJP fired at the Congress’s Karnataka incharge, KC Venugopal – a Kerala leader named in the infamous solar scam sexual harassment row.
Well, speaking of imports, what do you have to say about the occupants of 10 JP?
— BJP Karnataka (@BJP4Karnataka) April 25, 2018
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. https://t.co/YYo978DO74
Now, we think it is time we teach CM definition of
— BJP Karnataka (@BJP4Karnataka) April 25, 2018
'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 https://t.co/YYo978DO74
The BJP also hit out at the Chief Minister for what they called his attempt to create a north-south divide. “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,” they said.
Imports? How much lower can you stoop Mr. CM?
— BJP Karnataka (@BJP4Karnataka) April 25, 2018
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. https://t.co/YYo978DO74
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has confirmed a list of star campaigners, including national level leaders PM Narendra Modi and party president Amit Shah, who will be campaigning for the party in Karnataka.
The 40 high-profile campaigners are set to kick off the BJP’s campaign in the state into high gear just before the polls.
Home Minister Rajnath Singh was the first central leader to arrive in the state, following which he addressed party workers in Udupi on Monday.
He will be followed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi who is also set to address a rally in the coastal district on May 1. Party sources said that it will be one of 16 rallies that the PM will take part in.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is expected to arrive in the state on May 3 and is set to take part in over 30 rallies, especially in the coastal districts of Udupi and Dakshina Kannada.
Karnataka is slated to go to the polls on May 12, and the counting is on May 15. While Congress is hoping to retain the only big state where they are in power, the BJP is hoping to make an entry into south India with the elections. The JD(S) is the third big party to watch out for in the state, and observers say that – like several times in the past – they may get to play kingmaker once again.