Mysuru: Stating that BJP’s desperation to bring down the state government was largely driven by the party’s state president BS Yeddyurappa’s desire to become the chief minister again, former CM and senior Congress leader Siddaramaiah on Saturday said, “BJP is trying to topple the JD(S)-Congress coalition government before the Lok Sabha elections since Yeddyurappa has realised that he can never aspire to the CM’s post if he does not get it now.”Siddaramaiah, who heads the JD(S)-Congress coordination committee, said that Yeddyurappa was growing old, and understood that his chances of becoming the CM again were diminishing with each passing day. “This explains why the BJP is trying to dislodge the Kumaraswamy government by poaching MLAs,” he added.Pointing out that BJP leaders had been predicting the downfall of the HD Kumaraswamy-led coalition government, Siddaramaiah added, “Our government is strong, and it will last its full five-year term. Yeddyurappa’s ambition of becoming the CM again, before the Lok Sabha elections will not materialise.”None too pleased with the charges of corruption leveled against him by the BJP by furnishing reports of the Comptroller Auditor General (CAG) , Siddaramaiah made no attempts to hide his anger. “The BJP leaders are misleading the public. Owing to BJP government’s fiscal irresponsibility, the state exchequer was in trouble, I followed the principle of fiscal prudence after I came to power,” said Siddaramaiah, stating that senior BJP leader and former deputy CM R Ashoka was a member of the public accounts committee, and was free to probe it.Exuding confidence of the Congress storming back to power in the states where polls recently concluded – Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana, Rajasthan and Mizoram – Siddaramaiah said, “We have performed well in all the five states, and are certain of coming to power in four of them.” Calling it a precursor to the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Siddaramaiah said that the results of the assembly elections would indicate the direction of the political current in the nation. “They are clearly not favourable to Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” he said.Queried about his impending trip abroad, a visibly annoyed Siddaramaiah asked, “Is it an offence? I have a personal life too, and I am going abroad to attend a wedding being hosted at the house of a friend.”‘Siddaramaiah beat the Chamarajanagar jinx’Meanwhile, deputy CM G Parameshwara , who flagged off the construction of the Nalanda Study Centre in Chamarajanagar, attributed the party’s electoral success in the district to former CM Siddaramaiah’s many visits. “When he was the CM, Siddaramaiah visited Chamarajanagar town ten times, although it is believed to bring bad luck. Siddaramaiah is very stubborn, and does not subscribe to such beliefs,” said Parameshwara, alluding to the commonly held notion in political circles that an incumbent CM would lose the chair six months after visiting Chamarajanagar. “But Siddaramaiah went on to complete his term,” said the deputy CM.Parameshwara also reminded those present that he too had visited Chamarajanagar one day after he assumed the office of home minister. “It did not lead to any problems in my political career. I am now the deputy CM,” he said.Siddaramaiah, who was present with Parameshwara on the occasion, chose to remain silent.

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