Bengaluru, April 7 Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar predicted a two-thirds majority for the Congress-led UDF in the upcoming Kerala assembly elections, while accusing the ruling LDF of having an "internal understanding" with the BJP.
He also claimed that the people of Kerala are fed up with the Left government.
"Some of our Ministers, legislators, and I have campaigned in Kerala. We (the UDF) are confident that we will secure a two-thirds majority there. The people are tired of 10 years of LDF rule, as there has been no progress, and the state has also suffered financially," Shivakumar said.
Speaking to reporters upon returning from Kerala, he claimed that the LDF has an "internal understanding" with the BJP.
Noting that international travel constraints prevent voters abroad from coming to vote, Shivakumar said, "As surveys have shown that they (Keralites living abroad) will vote for the UDF, no special flight arrangements have been made for them to participate in voting."
Despite these challenges, the Congress and the UDF are working together and will win, he said, adding that he participated in 14 campaign events in Kerala.
Single-phase elections to the 140-seat Kerala Assembly will be held on April 9.
Exuding confidence that Congress will win in the bypolls to two assembly segments in Karnataka, the Deputy CM said, he has campaigned in both Bagalkot and Davanagere South, and people are happy with the government's programmes.
"There is no relief from the Centre, and there is also a price rise. But our government's five guarantee schemes have provided relief to the people," he said.
Bypolls for the Bagalkot and Davanagere South Assembly constituencies will be held on April 9. The polls were necessitated following the deaths of senior Congress MLAs H Y Meti and Shamanur Shivashankarappa, respectively.
To a question on the auto and commercial LPG shortage issue, Shivakumar urged Union Minister Pralhad Joshi, who is from the state, to help Karnataka.
"Two vessels containing gas came to India (from West Asia); why did they go directly to Gujarat? Why not our Mangaluru or Kerala or Chennai ports – for South India? They (the BJP-led government in the center) are only looking at North India, forgetting South. As they (the BJP) don't have a base in South India, they are playing politics," he alleged.