‘I humbly accept people’s verdict’: former CM Basavaraj Bommai after son’s defeat

HUBBALLI: Haveri-Gadag MP and former Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said he will humbly accept the verdict of the people in the Shiggaon-Savanur constituency by-election and congratulated Congress candidate Yasir Khan Pathan saying, ” I hope the development journey in the constituency continues”.

Speaking to the media in Hubballi after the results of the Shiggaon constituency by-election were announced, Bommai said he will accept the decision of the people of the Shiggaon constituency and congratulated the victorious candidate Yasir Khan Pathan. His son Bharat Bommai was the BJP candidate for the seat vacated by him.

During the election campaign, he was confident of victory based on the people’s response. However, he claimed that Congress achieved victory by unleashing a massive flood of money. “Since the government is theirs, the people have elected the ruling party’s candidate”.

He said, “We had undertaken significant development work in Shiggaon-Savanur constituencies and hoped that the development journey would continue and wished the best for the people of the constituency. During the campaign, 10 ministers, more than 40 MLAs and former MLAs stayed and campaigned here. The election was portrayed as ‘Government versus Bommai’. They won the election using the government machinery and money”.

Karnataka bypoll | | Trailing BJP candidate from Shiggaon Assembly constituency, Bharat Bommai says, “…They were sitting here by using money power…That is what has helped them. I thank every party worker who supported me….” pic.twitter.com/SNEsN9uf7d

— ANI (@ANI) November 23, 2024

The former CM said after the MP election in Shiggaon, he worked well. However, the entire government machinery came into action during this by-election.

“Generally, by-elections favour the ruling party. In the past, the BJP had won 13 out of 17 by-elections during our time. This result does not indicate a mandate on the government’s performance. They too won several by-elections, but eventually lost the government. Hence, the Congress government should not assume this as a certificate for their one-and-a-half years of governance”, he said.

On the results of the Maharashtra Assembly elections, the MP said as expected, a majority has been achieved in Maharashtra.

“Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and with the unity of three parties, the victory is based on the development work of the past three years. After the elections, it will become clear that people stand with Modi. “The opposition Congress may boast about increasing their seats in the Lok Sabha elections, but the people of Maharashtra have shown them their place”, he said. (ANI)