Never said we will win 150 seats: Bommai

Bengaluru: Karnataka chief minister Basavaraj Bommai on Thursday said that he never claimed the party would win 150 seats in the assembly elections. He, however, claimed that the party will win with a majority, rejecting the exit poll predictions that give the Congress an edge .

Talking to reporters in Hubballi, he said that there are no chances of a hung assembly and the party would get a clear majority. “During the 2018 assembly elections, surveys indicated that Congress would win over 107 seats. However, when the results came, that was not the case,” he said.

“All the exit polls predicted that Yogi Adityanath will not come back but he came back in Uttar Pradesh. Last time, they (exit polls) predicted only 80 seats for BJP and 107 for Congress but it became reverse…As per our ground reports, we are confident we will get a comfortable majority...We will get an absolute majority, mark my words,” Bommai said.

Former chief minster BS Yediyurappa said that he has travelled across the state and he is confident that the exit polls will be wrong. “Whatever the exit polls say, we will win with a majority. I am certain that we are getting a majority,” he said.

A day after voting ended for Karnataka assembly elections, BJP leader and revenue minister R Ashoka said that the Congress would not come to power at any cost and that his party would do “everything possible” to return to power.

When asked about the BJP’s plan if the party fails to cross the majority mark of 113 seats, the minister said, “We are hopeful of getting a majority but if we become the single-largest party and fall short of the majority mark, by all means, we will still form the government. Naturally, we will consider all the available options and take a decision after consulting our national leaders. We had done it the last time also.”

A day after the polls, the Congress held a crucial meeting to decide the party’s future action. Congress leaders Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar met with Randeep Singh Surjewala, the AICC general secretary in charge of Karnataka, to review the party’s strategy in view of the exit poll predictions.

Siddaramaiah on Thursday expressed gratitude to the party workers for working relentlessly during the election campaign and hoped that their struggle will “definitely bear fruit”, as the exit polls gave an edge to the grand old party.

“I have a special appeal to our party workers: You have left home and family to work for the election. Now take some time off and spend time with your parents, wife and children. Our honest struggle will definitely bear fruit. Thanks again and best wishes to you all,” Siddaramaiah tweeted.

As the party continues to be optimistic about the winning a majority, senior Congress leader Krishna Byre Gowda on Thursday said both Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar must be considered for the chief minister’s job. “Both should get the opportunity. This is what people and party workers are saying. That’s my opinion also,” said Gowda