Mysuru: PWD and District in-Charge Minister Dr. H.C. Mahadevappa has said that both the JD(S) and the BJP put together cannot defeat Chief Minister Siddharamaiah in the upcoming Assembly elections.

Speaking at a meeting to discuss development works at Jaladarshini Guest House yesterday, the Minister charged at the Opposition parties for spreading rumours about Siddharamaiah and the Congress party. “Unfortunately, those people who have lost elections are speaking against Congress and people will teach a lesson to them in the 2018 elections,” he said.

“Several political leaders who have no locus standi have been commenting on joining hands to defeat the CM. They must understand that Chamundeshwari supports Siddharamaiah. Recently, former Minister V. Sreenivasa Prasad, former MP A.H. Vishwanath and the present Chamundeshwari MLA G.T. Deve Gowda met. I will not discuss the issue as these meetings are a futile exercise,” he said.

Dr. Mahadevappa said that people have taught Sreenivasa Prasad a lesson in the by-election from Nanjangud Assembly constituency. “What could he do in Chamundeshwari segment from where Siddharamaiah is planning to contest? The game-plan of the JD(S) and BJP will not work,” he added.

“People will bring back Congress to power in 2018 as the Government has done good work. After the election, we will be governing the State while others in JD(S) and BJP leaders will remain where they are,” he said.

He said the Congress party High Command will decide about the candidature as well as that of his son Sunil Bose. It is said that Dr. Mahadevappa is planning to contest from Nanjangud while Bose would be fielded from T. Narasipur from where Dr. Mahadevappa won in 2013.