Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy has tried to appeal to the regional sentiments of Kannadigas on Thursday by saying that a Kannada man can become India's Prime Minister if the Congress-JDS alliance gets a specific number of seats in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

"In 1996, a Kannadiga HD Devegowda became PM after Karnataka blessed us with 16 Lok Sabha seats. If you bless Congress and JD(S) with at least 20-22 seats in Karnataka once again, a Kannadiga can be the PM. If you bless Congress and JD(S) with at least 20-22 seats in Karnataka once again, a Kannadiga can be in PM's chair. In this country anything can happen. Why can't it happen?" he asked.

The comments came a day after BJP leader BS Yeddyurappa controversially said that the Balakot airstrikes by the IAF can help win the saffron party up to 22 seats.