In a tweet, BS Yeddyurappa, BJP’s Karnataka chief ministerial candidate, indicated that he was game for a debate with CM Siddaramaiah who had issued an official challenge for a debate in an advertisement in local dailies. (Photo: File)

Bengaluru: It seems that the BJP has accepted the 15-minute debate challenge issued from the Congress. In a tweet, BS Yeddyurappa, BJP’s Karnataka chief ministerial candidate, indicated that he was game for a debate with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah who had issued an official challenge for a debate in an advertisement in local dailies.

In a taunting tweet, Yeddyurappa said field of debate should also include issues of Lokayukta, farmers' suicides, sand mafia and transfer of honest officers.

I think your Hublot watch suggests you the right time to show up for a debate.

1. Do get Vijay Eswaran, your fugitive friend along.

2. Do carry the diary of L Govindaraju.

3. Let us also debate: Turning Lokayukta Powerless, Farmers’ suicides, Sand Mafia, Honest Officers' Transfer https://t.co/OCgfmtOlno — B.S. Yeddyurappa (@BSYBJP) May 7, 2018

On Monday, a newspaper advertisement, featuring Congress president Rahul Gandhi and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, asked BJP's prospective chief minister BS Yeddyurappa to a "debate with facts".

A tweet from the 69-year-old Chief Minister repeated the invitation -- with an addition: "Modi is also welcome".

PM Modi is deliberately confusing Karnataka voters with his bombastic speeches on non-issues. All hot air & no substance. My contest is not with him. It is with Yaddyurappa.



I challenge him to an open debate on issues on a single platform. Will he accept? Modi is also welcome! pic.twitter.com/34Jl6nIeOE — Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) May 7, 2018

Read: Siddaramaiah challenges PM Modi, Yeddyurappa to open debate

With just five days left for the Karnataka Assembly elections, the politics in the state is heating up with the ruling Congress and opposition BJP trading allegations.

The Karnataka Congress led by Siddaramaiah has been attacked recently by BJP for meeting with two "declared absconders" wanted for financial fraud.

The BJP on Sunday accused Siddaramaiah of being linked to two men accused of fraud who are currently absconding.

BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra told reporters that Siddaramaiah had met them in China during the September 2013 World Economic Forum and was seen receiving a "gift package" from them.

Also Read: BJP shows Karnataka CM's pic with 'declared absconder', he rebuts charge

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah rubbished the allegations, saying he met many people in course of the China visit and cannot remember them all.

Since the campaigning for the Karnataka Assembly elections started, the Congress has accused the BJP of not having any plans for Karnataka's development and using other means to deflect attention from it.

The 15-minute debate challenge was issued by Congress President Rahul Gandhi to Prime Minister Narendra Modi a fortnight ago.

Last week, the Prime Minister had responded with a jibe, saying he challenged Rahul Gandhi to speak for 15 minutes without notes in Hindi, English or his "mother's mother tongue".

Also Read: Speak for 15 minutes without reading from paper: Modi dares Rahul in K'taka