‘I’m a politician, not wearing saffron clothes’, says Shivakumar on Congress CM debate

UDUPI: Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president D K Shivakumar on Monday gave a cryptic reply to the debate on who would be the Chief Minister if the Congress came to power. “We are politicians in white clothes, I’m not wearing saffron clothes”, he said.

Shivakumar, who spoke to reporters after performing Nava Chandika Yaga at the Kollur Mookambika temple along with his wife, said many are quitting the BJP and joining the Congress. “Their wish is to see a Congress government in the state”, he said. He also said that party leader Rahul Gandhi will visit the region soon and exuded confidence that the party will win 10 seats in the coastal region.

DK Shivakumar and his wife participating in the Nava Chandika Yaga at the Kollur temple on Monday.

“The Hindutva card will not help the BJP. We talk about issues concerning everyday life and they talk about emotive issues”, Shivakumar stressed. He also claimed that the rebellion in the party in Udupi has been sorted out.

On Opposition leader Siddaramaiah’s remark about a ‘corrupt Lingayat CM’, Shivakumar said that he meant only Basavaraj Bommai. “What did Yatnal, Goolihatti Shekar and Vishwanath say? They too said there is corruption in the BJP administration. Pratap Simha himself has spoken about commisison in the appointment of vice-chancellors. Fed up of the BJP, all communities are favouring the Congress”, he claimed.