Bengaluru/IBNS/UNI: After the INDIA bloc pressed for Mallikarjun Kharge's candidature, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday pitched for Rahul Gandhi as the prime ministerial face ahead of next year's Lok Sabha election.

"Only Congress can solve the problems afflicting the country, and for this to happen, Rahul Gandhi should become the prime minister," he told reporters here.

"Nobody in the country had done something like the Bharat Jodo Yatra. Now, (Rahul Gandhi) is taking up a second version - the Nyay Yatra. That's because not everyone has found justice in the country - backward classes, Dalits, minorities and women," Siddaramaiah said.

"Therefore, should someone like Rahul Gandhi get power or Narendra Modi? We must bury all our differences for the sake of the nation to protect the Constitution, harmony and sovereignty. We must bring back Congress and make Rahul Gandhi the prime minister," he said.

Even during 2019, Siddaramaiah had pitched for Rahul Gandhi as the PM. He accused the BJP of 'opposing' the reservation.

He also said that there is a difference between Hinduism and Hindutva, accusing BJP of 'fake Hindutva'.