Siddaramaiah calls Modi, Yogi 'North Indian import', BJP hits back with 'Italian toiletries' jibe

With less than a month left for Karnataka assembly elections, war of words continue between Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Congress, with both the parties taking jibes at each other.

On Wednesday, BJP launched a fresh attack on Chief Minister Siddaramaiah after he termed Prime Minister Narendra Modi a North Indian import for coming to campaign in Karnataka. 

He further said the Prime Minister may come and go, but here it is a battle between him and Yeddyurappa, and the saffron party knows who is winning in the May 12 Assembly polls.

However, in a blistering attack, BJP said that they understand the chief minister's frustration and desperation.

"Well, speaking of imports, what do you have to say about the occupants of 10 JP?. We can understand your frustration and desperation Mr. CM. When you realize PM Modi is more popular than you are even in your own Chamundeshwari, these kind of outbursts are natural," tweeted Karnataka BJP.

The BJP also targeted Karnataka Congress in-charge K C Venugopal.

Stating that it is time they teach CM definition of 'Import', the BJP said, "Bring (goods or services) into a country from abroad. For ex: when you get Italian toiletries for your Bengaluru bathroom, it's import. Not 'Import': When you get rape accused KC Venu from Kerala as Karnataka Incharge."

Now, we think it is time we teach CM definition of

'Import': bring (goods or services) into a country from abroad. For ex: when you get Italian toiletries for your Bengaluru bathroom, it's import.

Not 'Import': When you get rape accused KC Venu from Kerala as Karnataka Incharge https://t.co/YYo978DO74

— BJP Karnataka (@BJP4Karnataka) April 25, 2018

Venugopal, who had allegedly sexually assaulted the prime accused in the solar panel scam case Saritha Nair in Kerala, had earlier dismissed the charge, saying he was in public life for the last 40 years and that there was no black spot in his political career.  The campaign for the 224-member Karnataka Assembly is heating up with prominent leaders visiting the state and the political parties announcing their candidate lists for the polls. BJP is making an all-out effort to oust the Congress government from the state.

The BJP has declared its state unit chief B S Yeddyurappa and JDS H D Kumaraswamy as their chief ministerial faces. Both have been the state's chief minister.The Karnataka Assembly election will be held on May 12 and the counting of votes will be done on May 15.

A survey conducted by the Times Now-VMR has indicated a "photo-finish" in the Karnataka Assembly elections, with the BJP and the Congress neck-and-neck. The Janata Dal (Secular) supremo HD Deve Gowda said that his party would not form a coalition government with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) under any circumstances.