CM Siddaramaiah holds dinner-meeting to discuss strategy for Lok Sabha elections

With the Lok Sabha election approaching in close quarters, the three major parties in Karnataka namely the Indian National Congress (INC), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Janata Dal (Secular) JD(S) are strategizing to get hold of the maximum number of seats. There is a visible tension ahead of this major event. A late night dinner meeting in the Cauvery bungalow, which is the residence of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah discussed factors to be taken into consideration ahead of the election. 

Ministers Ramalinga Reddy, Lakshmi Hebbalkar, Zameer Ahmed, K.H Muniyappa in addition to others attended this meeting. It was noted that the BJP had become more active ever since the inauguration of the Ram Mandir. Measures to challenge the BJP-JD(S) alliance were discussed. Siddaramaiah has some insights on this issue. 

It was noted that BJP is focussing on statements given by Congress leaders. He emphasised that unnecessary statements need to be avoided. This would be briefed to legislators in the upcoming Congress Legislative Party meeting. “Our words should not benefit the BJP. We need to counter them in certain aspects,” Siddaramiah is reported to have stated in the meeting. The strategy is to focus on the pending release of funds from the central government for the drought relief, the neglect of Karnataka in the budget presented and the failure of the previous BJP government. The others who attended the meeting supposedly promised Siddaramaiah to work positively to secure a minimum of 20 seats for INC in Karnataka.