Davanagere (Karnataka), April 2 (NationPress) In response to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s statement comparing BJP leaders to “stray bulls”, senior BJP figure and former minister B. Sriramulu issued a pointed rebuttal on Thursday, asserting that if BJP leaders resemble bulls, then Congress leaders can be likened to rodents.

He remarked that Siddaramaiah is accompanied by individuals who have lost the trust of the public.

Sriramulu further indicated that the Congress is sensing a potential defeat in the upcoming by-elections for the Davanagere South and Bagalkot Assembly seats.

During a press briefing in Davanagere, he stated, “We appreciate the comparison to cattle. Cows consume only what is necessary and return home, whereas ministers in Siddaramaiah’s administration are pillaging the state’s funds, accumulating wealth that could sustain several generations.”

He accused the administration of extensive corruption in various corporations, including the Valmiki Development Corporation and Scheduled Caste corporations, alleging that the finances were misappropriated for elections in other states and the Lok Sabha elections.

Sriramulu asserted that Siddaramaiah’s government is rooted in deception. He referenced the chief minister’s claim that BJP wins in Bagalkot and Davanagere would end guarantee schemes.

“The Congress party governs Karnataka, not the BJP. If these guarantees are to be terminated, it is their responsibility to do so,” he articulated.

He criticized the Congress for underestimating voters, stating, “They have always perceived the public as gullible, but they now understand they are on the verge of losing in both constituencies. We are united in our efforts to support BJP candidate Srinivas Das Kariyappa in the South constituency, which has instilled fear in the Congress ranks.”

Sriramulu implied that Siddaramaiah is increasingly wary of Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar and the BJP following the by-election announcement.

In reference to the 2018 Assembly elections, he remarked that there had been calls for Dalit leader G. Parameshwara to be made Chief Minister, but Siddaramaiah obstructed this. “Circumstances have shifted. He invokes AHINDA solely for his advantage. When it comes to power distribution, AHINDA is disregarded, with positions allocated only to a select few,” he charged.

Sriramulu also noted that during campaign speeches, Siddaramaiah offers little but criticism of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. “It’s common knowledge that this government has accomplished nothing. The Congress government is in an ICU state, surviving on a ventilator of falsehoods. If that support is withdrawn, the government will collapse,” he asserted.

He questioned the Chief Minister’s absence from significant meetings, such as those of NITI Aayog and the GST Council. “What moral standing does he have to criticize Prime Minister Modi?” he queried.

Expressing optimism about the BJP’s future, Sriramulu affirmed that Srinivas Das Kariyappa would triumph in Davanagere South, with party leaders collaborating to ensure success.

In response to an inquiry, he alleged that Siddaramaiah has encumbered every citizen in the state, including future generations, with a debt burden of Rs 1.5 lakh. “While all chief ministers have taken loans, none have done so to this extent,” he claimed.