Top News

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday (June 5) said that the Congress had to change the Chief Minister in Karnataka due to bitter public resentment against it in the state. His remarks come days after Siddaramaiah stepped down as the Karnataka Chief Minister and was replaced by his deputy DK Shivakumar.

On Congress’ poll defeats

Addressing a public rally in Surat, Gujarat, where he inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of multiple development projects worth approximately Rs 18,800 crore, PM Modi further stated that despite being in power in Himachal Pradesh, the grand old party was routed in the recent local body polls, adding that the people of the State have rejected Congress’ misgovernance.

Also Read: New cabinet with Siddaramaiah clout. How much control does DKS have?

“PM Modi further commented on the political situation in Karnataka, stating, ‘There is immense resentment among the people of Karnataka regarding the Congress government, and that is precisely why the party had to change its Chief Minister there,” said PM Modi.

“Just recently, local body elections were held in Himachal as well. Despite having a Congress government there, the party suffered a crushing defeat. The people of Himachal have rejected the Congress’s misgovernance. Prior to this, the Congress lost the local body elections in Haryana, and the people of Punjab have also sent a clear message to the party. Congress’ politics of seeking opportunities amidst chaos will not work,” he added as quoted by YEARS.

Leadership change in Karnataka

The leadership change in Karnataka follows months of speculation over a power-sharing arrangement within the Congress between Siddaramaiah and his deputy D.K. Shivakumar. Siddaramaiah resigned on May 28 after consultations with the party high command in New Delhi, bringing an end to his second stint as Chief Minister. Shivakumar, who also heads the Karnataka Congress, was subsequently elected leader of the Congress Legislature Party and sworn in as Chief Minister on June 3.

Attack on Congress over governance

Lashing out at Congress over its criticism of the Centre’s ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ campaign, the Prime Minister accused the party of constantly looking for opportunities to spread chaos and uncertainty, adding that for such actions, people have given it a fitting. As for Gujarat, PM Modi said that people have pushed Congress to the margins.

Also Read: Karnataka’s power shift: Will Siddaramaiah go quietly or fight back? | AI With Sanket

“For the past 12 years, Congress has been seeking opportunities by spreading chaos and uncertainty, but the people of the country have repeatedly given it a fitting reply. The people of Gujarat have pushed the Congress to the margins, but even where Congress governments exist, the public has grown weary of the party’s misgovernance,” said PM Modi.