Former chief minister and Janata Dal (Secular) state president H D Kumaraswamy exuded confidence that his party would come to power in the state on its own by winning 130 to 135 seats.
He sought to dismiss his opponents’ prediction that his party would be able to get just 20 to 30 seats.
Addressing a meeting organised to welcome former minister G T Deve Gowda to the party fold, he said the objective of his struggle was not to become the chief minister, but to work for the state and solve people’s problems.
He claimed that the JD(S) was inevitable for the state as the national parties, Congress and BJP, “have failed to protect the regional interests”.
In Mysore, he said the party was confident of winning at least 10 out of 11 seats. He asked the party workers to bury the differences and work for the party’s success.
Taking a dig at Congress leader Siddaramaiah, Kumaraswamy said it was not easy for him to become the chief minister.
On Siddaramaiah being projected as a Kuruba leader, he wondered how many Kurubas had become MLAs with the help of him.
He asked farmers not to commit suicide and promised to waive farm and tractor loans if his party came to power. “I will give Rs 5,000 every month for six months to women from the fifth month of their pregnancy for safe delivery and for ensuring the baby is healthy. The monthly widow pension will be increased to Rs 1,500 from Rs 400,” the former chief minister said.