I will be 'king', not 'kingmaker' in K'taka poll: Kumaraswamy

April 29, 2018 14:06

Janata Dal-Secular state President H D Kumaraswamy today said he would not be a "kingmaker" and instead people of the state would bless him as "king" in the May 12 Karnataka assembly polls, which he conceded was a "battle for survival" for his party.

Expressing confidence about the JD-S coming to power on its own, the former chief minister said, he is asking people to give the party a "chance", having seen the performance of both the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Congress.

"I'm completely confident about bringing in a government with majority, I don't have an iota of doubt," Kumaraswamy told PTI.

Pre-poll surveys on the elections to the 225-member Karnataka House, that includes one nominated member, have projected a hung assembly with the JD-S emerging as kingmaker.

Kumaraswamy said his target was 113 seats.

"I'm targeting 113, I have made preparations strategically, required to reach 113. So in my opinion ultimately I will succeed in reaching my goal. People will make me succeed, I have this confidence," he said.

To a query, Kumaraswamy said, as per his current calculations, the JD-S would comfortably reach the 97-105 mark and it is now working towards making up the remaining seats.

"I'm confident that we will not fall short... according to my calculation 97-105 comfortably I'm going to reach this time, another 7-8 seats I may fall short. For that I'm working out and I'm sure we will make it up," he said.

Asked if he would not need support of other parties to make up for the numbers, he replied in the negative.

Ruling out any prospect of a hung assembly, he said, "It (situation) is not going to arise, I'm confident."

Dismissing pre-poll surveys which predicted a hung assembly and projected the JD(S) as "kingmaker", he said only after polls can such surveys have some clarity and "not at this stage."

"Not kingmaker, people will bless me as a king, that full confidence is there," he said, as he claimed that there is an "undercurrent" in favour of the JD-S across the state and people have "lost faith" in the BJP and Congress. -- PTI

« Back to LIVE

TOP STORIES

'Virat Kohli opens and Rohit Sharma bats at No. 3'

Former all-rounder Ajay Jadeja believes that India skipper Rohit Sharma should push himself to the number three spot and promote Virat Kohli to the opening position during next month's T20 World Cup in the Americas.

Women Of My Billion Review: Honest And Hopeful

Women Of My Billion is stark and disturbing, but at the end of it Srishti Bakshi is still able to say, 'My India is not beyond repair', observes Deepa Gahlot.

9 Super Summer Holiday Options For Families

Looking for fun things to do as family during this sunny season?

Aamir's Dream Comes True

Sridevi's younger daughter Khushi and Aamir Khan's elder son Junaid are coming together for a film, to be directed Aamir's trusted director, the very talented Advait Chandan (Secret Superstar, Laal Singh Chaddha).

Helicopter on way to pick up Shiv Sena leader crashes in Maha

While the pilot suffered injuries, the helicopter's rotor blades got damaged in the incident.