Congress ready for elections any time, but no possibility of early polls in Karnataka: Siddaramaiah
Bengaluru, July 19: Senior Congress leader Siddaramaiah on Monday said the party was ready to face elections in Karnataka at any point of time, but maintained that there is no possibility of early assembly polls.
Amid speculations in the ruling BJP about the possible replacement of Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa and a purported audio clip indicating that it may become a reality going viral, the Leader of the Opposition in the state assembly said it is good that a "corrupt Chief Minister" is going.
"Congress is ready to face elections at any point of time," he said in response to a question whether the party was ready in case the BJP is unable to handle its internal crisis.
Speaking to reporters here, he said "I don't feel that an early election will take place because if Yediyurappa is removed, another person will be made the Chief Minister.
We are ready to face the election whenever it comes."
The term of the current assembly ends in 2023.
The Congress Legislature Party leader's comments come at a time when an audio clip has surfaced, fuelling a new round of speculation on whether replacing the 78 year-old Chief Minister is on the cards.
The purported audio clip is about Karnataka BJP President Nalin Kumar Kateel hinting at a possible leadership change in the state, which he has dismissed as fake.
Siddaramaiah, who has been saying for quite some time now that Yediyurappa will be replaced, said in response to a question on the audio clip that it is good that a corrupt Chief Minister is going.
"I had in the past said that CM will be changed... none of you (media) believed. I had information about this from the beginning.
Also Yediyurappa's is the most corrupt government. Both Yediyurappa and his son are corrupt," he said.
Kateel might have spoken about the discussion that is going on at the high command level, but he has denied stating that it was not his voice, Siddaramaiah pointed out, adding that "There is no plus or minus because of Yediyurappa's replacement..people will decide."
Meanwhile, not willing to comment on his scheduled visit to Delhi to meet the Congress high command, Siddaramaiah said party issues should be discussed at the party forum.
Siddaramaiah and Karnataka Congress president D K Shivakumar are scheduled to leave for New Delhi on Monday night following a call from the high command.
The visit assumes significance following reports of one- upmanship between the two leaders, especially after a section of MLAs projected Siddaramaiah as the next chief minister if the Congress comes to power.
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Two held for robbing man on knifepoint
Bengaluru (PTI): Two people have been arrested for allegedly robbing a man at knifepoint after seeking a lift on his two-wheeler, police said on Friday.
The accused, who were apprehended within a day of the complaint, are alleged to have assaulted the victim using a knife and helmet before fleeing with his vehicle, mobile phone and purse.
The victim, a manager at a Kalyana Mantapa in Nellukunte, has lodged a complaint at Chikkajala Police Station on March 26, police said.
He stated that at around 2.30 am on March 25, while heading towards Hunasamaranahalli Road for food, two unidentified persons requested a lift, which he agreed to.
"When they reached near D-Mart on Hosahalli Road, the accused asked him to stop the vehicle. Upon stopping, the accused abused him, assaulted him using a knife and helmet, and robbed his two-wheeler, mobile phone, and purse before fleeing," the release said.
During the investigation, police gathered credible leads and apprehended the two accused near Hunasamaranahalli on March 26.
"Upon interrogation, both accused confessed to their involvement in the offence," it said.
Based on their disclosure, the stolen two-wheeler, knife, helmet, purse and a mobile phone were recovered.
The total value of the recovered property was pegged at Rs 2.20 lakh.
The accused were produced before a court on March 27 and remanded to judicial custody, police said.
