'Are you number two to Shivakumar or Siddaramaiah?': Smriti Irani taunts Jagadish Shettar in Karnataka poll campaign

Speaking at an event, Irani asked Shettar whether he is No.2 to Congress leaders DK Shivakumar or Siddaramaiah, taunting him by hinting that the BJP had given him huge respect by anointing him as the chief minister.

"He (Shettar) is older than me. Hugely experienced. When he was with us, we showered him with respect. Made him the chief minister. Today I want to ask him whose No.2 you are - Shivakumar ji's or Siddaramaiah ji's?" the union minister asked.

Irani also criticised Shettar for joining the Congress for the sake of "greed". "It hurts and makes people resent. There are many people on the dais and off the dais who have showered respect on him (Shettar). After occupying the highest position, he gained respect in the society. And today, for the sake of greed, he left his own people and adopted a stranger (Congress)," she said here on Tuesday.

Continuing her tirade against Shettar, Irani said those who cannot be loyal to their religion, family or ideology, can never be loyal to the public.

"A few days ago, one of our men (Shettar) backstabbed us and went to the other camp (Congress). The public knows everything. I want to tell the people of Hubli-Dharwad that those who cannot be of their religion, family or ideology, can never be of the public," the union minister said.

Karnataka goes to poll on May 10 and counting will take place on May 13.