Wrong deeds catching up with BJP government in Karnataka: P Chidambaram

BANGALORE: Union Home Minister P Chidambaram said today wrong deeds are catching up with the BJP government in Karnataka, where the ruling party would not be voted back to power by people disappointed and distressed by its rule.

Referring to factional feuds and tussle over leadership, he said the people are "very, very disappointed and distressed by the developments".

He said BJP acquired majority through " Operation Lotus" (engineering defections from opposition parties)". "That lotus is withering now".

"It's bound to happen. If you form a government, run a government by wrong means, sooner or later your wrong deeds will catch up with you; that's what's happening in Karnataka", he said in an address to Congress workers and leaders at Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee office here.

For the last many months, there has been virtually no government in the State, he said. "There has been no governance at all", Chidamabaram said, adding, the sad part is that the sufferers are the people.

There was a time when Karnataka was a front-line State, many front-line industries set up shop in the State and Bangalore was known as knowledge city. "That preeminent position has been lost".

"It's absolutely clear that they (people) will not vote BJP back to power (in Karnataka)", he said. "No party which changes its Chief Minister three times in five years is going to come back to power".

He said Congress has a "great opportunity" to come to power in the State in elections, due in May next year, and the party has to face the electorate unitedly.