Maintaining that the outcome of the Lok Sabha elections in the state is not a referendum on the performance of the Siddaramaiah-led Congress government, Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president G Parameshwara ruled out any possibilities of change of guard after May 16.
Speaking to reporters on Friday, Parameshwara said: “Siddaramaiah and I would shoulder the responsibilities of the outcome of the elections.” However, he said that the party had a good run-up to the April 17 elections.
Claiming that people cutting across all sections of society extended their support to Congress candidates in the state, he said the party would win not less than 20 seats in the state.“We arrived at this opinion on the basis of the field report received from the grassroot-level in the party, who worked day and night for the success of the party nominees”, he said.
‘No Target Fixed’
Dismissing media reports that party high command had set a target to both himself and the CM to ensure a minimum 20 Lok Sabha seats from the state, he said: “If we fail to reach the expected figure, it is a lesson for us to introspect and take corrective measures to face the next elections.” Once the results are out, senior party leaders, including Siddaramaiah and others would sit together and review the performance of the party candidates, he said.
‘JD(S), BJP Tactic Understanding’
Charging that both the BJP and the JD(S) had come to a ‘tacit understanding’ to help each other, he said: “This was evident in Mysore, Uttara Kannada, Chamarajanagar, Bidar and couple of other Lok Sabha seats.”
Thanking all the concerned including, the media, Election Commission officials and all the political parties for extending co-operation and contributing for the smooth conduct of the polling, the KPCC president said: “One needs to forget any unsavoury incidents which took place in run-up to the Lok Sabha elections.”
He also offered apology for having hurt anybody knowing or knowingly during electioneering.
On serious allegations of rowdy elements accompanying top Congress leaders during campaigning in last few weeks, the KPCC president dismissed it and said: “Congress never defends any anti-social or criminal elements.”