Page 5 - The Indian EYE 051923

BIG STORY MAY 19, 2023 | The Indian Eye 5

poor. “The poor defeated crony cap-
italists in Karnataka...We fought the
elections with love...,” he said.
Siddaramaiah said PM Modi had
campaigned extensively in the state
but it not did yield results for BJP. He
also talked about his own victory from
Varuna. “The people of the Varuna
constituency have given a befitting
reply. This is a stepping stone for the
upcoming Lok Sabha elections,” he
said.
Shivakumar talked about his
own struggle and said the party had
worked hard to achieve victory. “I
can’t forget Sonia Gandhi visiting me
in jail...when BJP people put me in
jail,” said an emotional Shivakumar.
“I credit my cadre and all my party
leaders, they worked hard. People
have posed faith in us, they support-
ed us. It is collective leadership and
we jointly worked...thinking together
is progress, and working together is
success”.
Shivakumar recalled his time
in jail in 2019 in connection with an
alleged money laundering case. “I
had promised Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge being felicitated by party leaders DK Shivakumar, Siddaramaiah, KC Venugopal and others on
Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi and the party’s victory in the Karnataka Assembly elections on Saturday (ANI)
party president Mallikarjun Kharge
that I will deliver the state. When
these BJP people put me in jail, I re- predictions of most pollsters. While it is a setback for the party. “This is taka 20 times, no PM in the past cam-
member Sonia Gandhi came to meet many exit polls had said that Con- a setback for us in Karnataka. We ac- paigned like this,” Siddaramaiah said.
me there. Such is the faith the par- gress will be ahead, almost all of them cept the verdict of the people. We will “We will cross 130 seats also; it
ty, the Gandhi family and the whole could not accurately predict the scale work much harder, seek the blessings is a big victory of the Congress party.
country bestowed on me,” he said. of the party’s victory. With the Con- of the people and come out with fly- The people of Karnataka wanted a
Accepting the verdict, senior BJP gress winning more than 130 seats ing colors. When it comes to the 2024 change because they were fed up with
leader BS Yediyurappa said victory in the assembly elections of Karna- elections, we want to ensure that all the BJP government. BJP spent a lot
and defeat are not new for the party taka, Former Defense Minister AK our candidates win from all the 28 of money on Operation ‘Kamala’.
and it will introspect. “Victory and de- Antony called it a historical win for seats,” Narayan said. Padyatra of Rahul ji helped as well in
feat aren’t new to BJP. Party workers his party and said that it showcased With the party al set to form the the enthusing cadre of party,” Sidda-
need not be panicked by these results. the victory of Secularism. government in Karnataka, Congress ramaiah said.
We will introspect about the party’s AK Antony said, “Congress’ leader Siddaramaiah on Saturday Siddaramaiah also tweeted. “This
setback. I respectfully accept this ver- victory is historical, it showcases said with the mandate for the party is a victory for a secular party!! People
dict,” he said. the victory of secularism, win over in the Karnataka Assembly elections of Karnataka wanted a stable govern-
Chief Minister Basavraj Bom- hate politics. This shares many he hopes for Rahul Gandhi to be- ment that delivers as promised, and
mai had conceded defeat as trends messages; the secular voters can come the prime minister of the coun- hence have given the mandate for
showed a massive Congress surge. unite and in the 2024 elections we try. The Congress leader hoped that Congress!!”
He said BJP will emerge victori- can beat the Modi government.” Rahul Gandhi, who was the prime As the counting of votes for the
ous in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. Bom- Congress won an absolute major- ministerial candidate of the Congress Karnataka Assembly elections gave a
mai won with a margin of 35,978 votes ity in Karnataka with the party in the 2014 and 2019 Lok Sabha elec- clear edge to the Congress, the grand
from Shiggaon constituency but many crossing the halfway mark of 113 tions, becomes the Prime Minister old party on Saturday shared a video
of his ministerial colleagues lost. “...I seats in the 224-member assembly. in 2024. Describing the results of the featuring Rahul Gandhi during his
take responsibility for this debacle. He said the win in the southern Karnataka Assembly polls as a man- Bharat Jodo Yatra. “I’m invincible.
There are multiple reasons for this. state gives a clear message that the date against Prime Minister Naren- I’m so confident. Yeah, I’m unstop-
We will find out all the reasons and people want development, peace and dra Modi, Siddaramaiah said that it pable today,” the Congress said in a
strengthen the party once again for harmony. “Karnataka Election Win would act as a “stepping stone” to the Tweet.
Parliament elections..,”he said. gives another message they want de- Lok Sabha election slated next year. With the party getting a seven per
Bommai said the party will make velopment, peace and harmony. They “The result of this election is a cent lead over the BJP in vote share,
necessary corrections. “We accept the voted against hatred politics. On the stepping stone to the Lok Sabha elec- it is a crushing blow to Prime Minister
verdict of the people of Karnataka national level, it shows secular voters tion. I hope all non-BJP parties come Modi who personally led his party’s
with due respect. We will take this can unite and throw away the PM together and see that BJP is defeated campaign in the state.
verdict in our stride. We will analyse Modi-led government,” said Antony. and I also hope Rahul Gandhi may It is too early to predict how will
and correct our fault lines and rebuild Meanwhile, Karnataka Minister become PM of the country,” Sidda- this play out in other assembly elec-
the party and come back during par- CN Ashwath Narayan on Saturday ramaiah said. “It is a mandate against tions due this year and in 2024 but the
liamentary elections,” he said. said the Bharatiya Janata Party ac- Narendra Modi, Amit Shah and JP Congress party certainly has the mo-
Congress’ performance beat the cepts the verdict of the people and Nadda. The PM had come to Karna- mentum at the moment.

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