New Delhi: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has described BJP's statewide yatra against his government as a "yatra of remorse" and asserted the saffron party cannot succeed in the state as its people are "politically mature".

He also hit out at BJP national president Amit Shah and state president Yeddyurappa by pointing out that both of them had been to jail.

The chief minister also defended the state government's decision to celebrate the birth anniversary of 18th century Mysore ruler Tipu Sultan.

Siddaramaiah's reaction came after Shah kicked off the 75-day "Nava Karnataka Nirmana Parivarthane Yatra", led by Yeddyurappa to "expose misdeeds" of the Congress government in the 224 assembly constituencies of the state.

Launching the yatra, Shah had accused the Karnataka government of breaking "all records" in corruption.

"The people of Karnataka are very mature, it is not like UP or any other state. In south India, our people are not emotional, they are politically mature and believe in secular principles..." Siddaramaiah said. 

“Roots of secular principles are strong here. Their (BJP) wish of doing something here cannot happen”, he remarked.

Nothing will happen even if they bring Prime Minister or Shah or Adityanath. Polarisation of votes through Hindutva and instigation will not happen here," the senior Congress leader said.

Defending his government, Siddaramaiah said, "There is no corruption or scandal...in fact (they) had gone to jail on corruption charges. How many of them had gone..?" 

Listing out the BJP leaders who had gone to jail including Yeddyurappa, the chief minister asked, "Did they go to jail simply? They have to go before the people and tell-- we have gone to jail and come back, now we are coming in front of you (people)." 

Siddaramaiah said people of Karnataka are satisfied by his government's programmes during the last five years and have decided to bless the Congress again.

"We will 100 per cent come back to power in 2018 Assembly elections. So any number of such yatras by them (BJP) will have no influence," he said.