A video of Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's near-perfect mimicry of PM Narendra Modi is viral
At a public meeting in Karnataka, a roar of laughter and applause rang out when a booming voice intoned: "
Sabka saath, sabka vikas". The man saying the words was not Prime Minister Narendra Modi. But Chief Minister Siddaramaiah could have fooled anyone, not just the crowds at Chikkodi, where he was speaking on Tuesday.
A
video of Mr Siddaramaiah's near-perfect mimicry at the rally has become a big hit online.
The Karnataka Chief Minister, campaigning for polls next year in the state, targeted PM Modi on the promise to bring back black or untaxed money stashed abroad and mocked most of his popular catchphrases to drive home the message.
"
Sabka saath, sabka vikas (Development for all)," boomed Mr Siddaramaiah in the middle of his speech. Pause. "What development?" he wondered, switching back to Kannada.
"
Acche din aaega," Mr Siddaramaiah sneered. "
Kab aayega? Kisko aayega? (Good times are ahead? When? For whom?)"
"
Achhe din aane waale hain" ("Good times are ahead") was the BJP's popular slogan during the 2014 general election.
Deriding another promise during that election - that of bringing back black money and depositing Rs 15 lakh in the bank account of every Indian - the 68-year-old politician asked: "Did he put even 15 paise in your account?"
"No
acche din, no
vikas, no Rs 15 lakh in your accounts," the minister jeered.
Mr Siddaramaiah also targeted state BJP president and former Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa, who had spoken about development at a rally in the same town earlier.
"Election brings out so many hidden talents. Amazing," joked blogger and commentator Sandip Ghose on Twitter.
"So clearly he thinks Modi's popularity can cost him the state else wouldn't have bothered countering," tweeted Shilpi Tewari.