Siddaramaiah sparks row over remarks on Lingayat, Vokkaligas

Former Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday found himself in the midst of a row over his purported remarks about two dominant communities in the State in a video that has gone viral.

The comments were reportedly made during a private conversation with a few Congress leaders recently.

Siddaramaiah is purportedly heard saying Lingayats, a prominent community seen backing the BJP, were now distancing themselves from Lingayat strongman and Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa, and the Vokkaligas, another dominant community, disenchanted with the JD(S) and H D Kumaraswamy.

Yediyurappa and Kumaraswamy flayed Siddaramaiah, who is opposition leader in the state assembly, for his alleged comments.

"He is behaving like a dictator as if he is holding all the responsibilities. He believes that the people were with him. I am unable to comprehend why (such) statements are made," Yediyurappa said.

The Chief Minister claimed Siddaramaiah has been trying to create confusion in the Congress.

He reminded him that people were closely noticing all his activities.

Sharing the video, the state BJP unit too slammed the Congress veteran for not rising above "caste based politics."
Retorting, Siddaramaiah said "Casual private discussion at my residence is being misinterpreted by BJP leaders to derive sadistic pleasure."