Mangaluru, (The Hindu): The BJP president Amit Shah said here on Tuesday that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah issuing legal notice to him and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on an allegation made against him [Mr. Siddaramaiah] is an eyewash to cover up receiving an expensive watch as gift.

Addressing a gathering at Markada Junction in the city after winding up his four-hour long election roadshows, Mr. Shah said that he has been speaking about Mr. Siddaramaiah taking an expensive watch since the last three months.

“He (Mr. Siddramaiah) has woken up now and has replied by issuing the legal notice,” he said.

While Mr. Siddaramaiah has, in the notice, said that he had received the expensive watch from “Doctor Verma”, Mr. Shah said that the Chief Minister should tell the people whether Customs duty was paid for the watch. “People should also know why the doctor gave such a gift to you (Mr. Siddaramaiah),” he said.

Mr. Shah said that the notice has been served keeping the Assembly election in mind.

“You (Mr. Siddaramaiah) will get a reply from the people on May 15 when you will be voted out of power,” Mr. Shah said.

Voting on May 12, Mr. Shah said, was not the one to change a Minister or a Chief Minister. It will be for transformation of Karnataka, whose growth had come to a standstill in the last five years of the Congress Government, Mr. Shah said.

Accusing Mr. Siddaramaiah of doing little in the investigation of murders of BJP activists in the State, Mr. Shah asked party workers to campaign in a way that BJP candidates win from all parts of the State.

Mr. Shah went on the roadshows in a specially designed vehicle starting from Kolya to Thokkottu Junction under Mangaluru constituency. The party candidate Santhosh Kumar Rai Boliyaru was with him.

Later, another roashow was held between Navabharath Circle and Flower Market on Car Street along with Mangaluru City South candidate D. Vedavyasa Kamath.

The last roadshow was between Kavoor Junction and Markada Junction when he was accompanied by Manglauru City North constituency candidate Y. Bharath Shetty. After the roadshow, Mr. Shah visited the Kudroli Gokarnanatha Temple.