Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that "games are being played" within the Congress in Karnataka amid internal power tussle over the chief minister post.
In an exclusive interview to News18 Group Editor-in-Chief Rahul Joshi, News18 Kannada Editor, Hariprasad, and News18 Lokmat Anchor Vilas Bade, PM Modi blamed the Congress party for the law and order situation and the economic condition of the state.
He further blamed the Congress party -- which is currently in power in the state -- for "unresolved issues" including that over the role of chief minister.
Referring to the deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar, Modi said that he is asking for votes for his brother DK Suresh to become CM of the state himself. "The deputy CM is asking for votes for his brother so that he can become CM, so everyone is playing games. There are games being played to remove someone from the seat. As far as the BJP is concerned, we are working with team spirit even if my team was defeated," Modi said.
Last year after the Assembly elections, Siddaramaiah was announced as the chief minister of the state after days of speculation.
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Shivakumar, who was in contention for the top post, had to settle for the deputy CM's role in the state.
Congress had bagged 135 seats in the elections to the 224-member Karnataka Assembly.
Sources close to Shivakumar said he decided to make the "sacrifice" and agreed to be deputy chief minister in the interest of the party, PTI reported.
Prime Minister Modi, during the interaction with News18, targeted the Congress and said, "In such a short time, they still have unresolved issues like the post of CM. While the CM has taken oath, it has not been settled who it really is. If you look at the law-and-order situation, there are riots and murders taking place; the economic condition is in a state of complete bankruptcy."
"They have made big promises, if this happens, you will get this, if that happens, you will get this. This means you are cheating the public. When we said we will give Ayushman Bharat cards to these people, we will fulfil that, there will be no dishonesty," he added.
The Prime Minister also blamed the party for cancelling the scheme for farmers.
"Look at Bengaluru, which has big role in increasing the country's education. Now, it has been turned into a tanker hub in no time. And there is a mafia involved there too. People are yearning for water," he claimed.
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