Karnataka Polls: BJP getting majority, so no post-poll alliance with JDS: BS Yediyurappa

Bengaluru: Former Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa on Wednesday said the BJP will form government with an absolute majority in the state, and therefore there is no question of having a post poll alliance with JDS to form the government in the event of hung verdict in Karnataka assembly election.

"The question of having a post poll alliance with JDS to form the government does not arise because BJP is going to get an absolute majority," he told reporters after casting his vote in Shikaripura from where his son BY Vijayendra is contesting his maiden election.

Yediyurappa said because of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Amit Shah's programmes given to Karnataka, BJP is going to win the election. "Almost all around the state, development has taken place including irrigation works, and that is why I am saying we are winning with an absolute majority, and we are going to form the government," he said.

Vijayendra also agreed with his father of not having any post-poll truck with the JDS to form the government because BJP is going to get an absolute majority as people of Karnataka are fed up with hung assembly.

"Absolutely, I agree with him. In the last three weeks, the media also must have observed the way the trend is changing. The people of Karnataka are fed up with this hung assembly. So, it is not good in the interest of the state. People have realised and I am sure they will give a clear mandate for BJP," he said.

Vijayendra also said the BJP is targeting 140-plus seats, and so at least the party would cross the 130 mark.

On Congress complaining about PM Modi's video appealing voters to exercise franchise on the eve of polling, Yediyurappa said, "There is no other work for them. They know hundred percent that they are losing the election. That's why they speak this type of non-sense they speak. For that there is no respect for those words."

Asked if this election will be a curtain-raiser for the 2024 Lok Sabha election, Yediyurappa said in the last general election, the BJP won 25 out of 28 seats, and it would repeat the performance in the next election too and PM Modi will return to power.

Asked how is he looking at the election, Vijayendra said the party is confident that the people of Karnataka would bless them with an absolute majority because they love PM Modi's governance at the centre and pro-people's schemes implemented by the state government.

Asked whether non-participation of Yediyurappa in the election had any impact, Vijayendra said in fact it is going to help BJP in the hustings because he has been leading from the front along with other national leaders during the campaign.

"It is a challenge and also a big responsibility because people of our Shikaripura constituency repose so much faith in Yediyurappa ji's leadership and also BY Raghavendra, an MP. So, it is an uphill task but I am confident I will do justice to the people of my constituency," he said replying to a question.

The voting for the 224-member assembly began at 7 am. (UNI)