Bengaluru: In what seems as a change of plan of BJP, Prime Minister Narendra Modi showered praise on the former prime minister H D Deve Gowda, at an election rally here in poll-bound Karnataka. Modi said Deve Gowda was one of the most respected and tallest leaders for whom he had great respect.
It must be noted that the BJP had declared that it will need no leg up to form the government in Karnataka. According to political analysts, Deve Gowda’s party will decide whether the Congress retains the southern state – or loses it to the BJP. As per the opinion polls, no party will get a simple majority in the elections to conclude on May 12. Hence Mr Gowda’s Janata Dal Secular or JDS will be the decision-maker.
At one of his three rallies in Karnataka, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today lashed out at Congress president Rahul Gandhi for “insulting” JD(S) supremo H D Deve Gowda, saying it showed his “arrogance”. “You disrespect Deve Gowda even though you are a novice and he is a veteran.” He said referring to Rahul Gandhi.
It must be recalled that Rahul Gandhi had accused Mr Gowda of being a proxy – “the B-team” – for the BJP and urged voters to spurn the JDS.