BENGALURU: A day before the counting of votes for the Karnataka Assembly elections, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Friday held a key meeting with top Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders from the state.
The meeting was held at the residence of former Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa in Bengaluru. Rajya Sabha MP Lehar Singh Siroya, Byrathi Basavaraju and others were present during meeting
In a meeting, Yediyurappa instructed the leaders to keep close watch on the Congress’ moves and monitor the movements of important leaders of that party. He also asked the party leaders to keep in touch with winning Independent candidates and take them into confidence. The meeting also took stock of the offer and conditions laid down by JD(S) leader Kumaraswamy and brought it to the attention of the high command which will take a decision on an alliance if the situation arises.
After the meeting at Yeddyurappa’s residence, minister Murugesh Nirani said the BJP will get majority and will win 100 per cent at least 108 seats. “There is a 50:50 chance in 35 constituencies, but of these too, we will win 10-12 seats”, he claimed.
Nirani further said, “Various channels have already done exit polls and they are similar in 2018. There is a difference between the election then and now. We have booth level and Assembly segment-wise information and we are confident of securing a majority. We have not discussed about any alliance with JD(S), we will do so if there is a hung Assembly”.
Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said, “The Congress leaders are trying to initiate talks with leaders from other parties. It shows they are not confident about their own legislators”, he remarked. The CM also said there is no question of an alliance as they will secure majority on its own. “Both myself and senior leader B S Yediyurappa have been giving the same numbers”, he insisted.
Former Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa on Thursday expressed confidence that the Bharatiya Janata Party would secure an absolute majority and return to power for a second term to form government in the southern state.
On Thursday, Yediyurappa had said, “I am 100 per cent confident that the BJP will secure an absolute majority and form the government”. Yeddyurappa’s response came after exit polls predicted Congress’s edge over the BJP in Karnataka polls. The BJP leader refuted any possibility of a hung assembly.
