Chikkaballapura: Prime Minister Narendra Modi said big and powerful people in India and abroad have joined hands to remove him from power.

PM Modi said the same while addressing a mega public meeting at Chikkaballapura in Karnataka on Saturday. He said, "Mothers and sisters have come in a large number here. Your struggle and the challenges you face to nurture your family, Modi has seen this in his house. These days big and powerful people in the country and abroad have united to remove Modi." “But, because of Nari Shakti and Maatru Shakti's blessings and 'suraksha kavach' (safety armour), Modi can move on fighting challenges.”

"Serving mothers, sisters and daughters and protecting them is Modi's priority," he said, listing out measures taken by his government for women's welfare in 10 years, like supporting their self-help groups and creating ‘Lakhpati Didis.’

Former Minister K Sudhakar is the BJP candidate from Chikkaballapur, while its alliance partner JD(S) has fielded M Mallesh Babu from the neighbouring Kolar.

The Prime Minister said the first phase of voting for Lok Sabha on Friday favours NDA and 'Viksit Bharat.' Targeting the INDIA bloc, he said the opposition alliance doesn't have a leader at present, and has no vision for the future, and "their history was of scams." 

Praising JD(S) patriarch and former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda who shared the stage with him, for his energy and commitment at the age of 90, Modi said he too draws inspiration from him.

"His (Gowda's) commitment towards Karnataka, the pain in his heart for the plight of Karnataka today and the 'josh' in his voice, is the testimony for Karnataka's bright future," he said, as he thanked Gowda for his “blessings.”

The JD(S) joined the NDA in September last year. Karnataka is going to the polls in two phases. While 14 Lok Sabha segments in the southern parts of the state will vote on April 26, the remaining 14 constituencies in the northern parts will vote in the second phase on May 7.

(with PTI inputs)