Shortly after filing his nominations, Karnataka Congress leader Siddaramaiah on Wednesday said that his party is Secular and is not seeking votes on the basis of caste. The former Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah filed his nomination from the Varuna Assembly constituency for the upcoming Karnataka Assembly elections. “Congress is a secular party. We are not asking for votes on the basis of caste. We expect the votes from all communities, including Linagayts, Vokkaligas and other communities,” Siddaramaiah told reporters. His remarks came in the wake of Karnataka Chief Minsiter Basasavaraj Bommai on Tuesday alleging that Congress is applying a divide-and-rule policy for Lingayats and Veerashaivas. “The party will decide,” the Congress leader said when he was asked who will become the Chief Minister. Various other leaders across parties will file the nomination including Jagadish Shettar from the Hubli-Dharwad-Central Assembly constituency, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai from Shiggaon, former chief minister BS Yediyurappa’s son Vijayendra from Shikaripura.