JOIN USShilpa, wife of Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar, seems to have stolen a march on candidates likely to contest against him in the coming elections.
Shilpa has begun door-to-door campaigning in the Hubli-Dharwad Central constituency, which Shettar represents in the present Assembly and from where he is seeking re-election.
While Shettar will be the BJP candidate, the other parties are yet to finalise their nominees. Shilpa is chipping in for her husband, who is busy finalising strategy and candidates for his party, along with other top leaders.
Shilpa has for company members of the BJP Mahila Morcha and the corporator of the area. The chief minister’s wife is meeting voters in areas around Madhura Estate, where the Shettars reside.
Meets neighbours
She began canvassing for votes on Tuesday itself, by distributing pamphlets which highlight the various development works undertaken by Shettar in the constituency and the projects proposed in future.
Shilpa and her co-campaigners visited houses at Akash Park and Shabari Nagar on Kusugal Road on Thursday in scorching sun. At several houses, only the womenfolk were present and the campaign team requested them to vote for the BJP.
They felt at home in many houses where they quenched their thirst.
Shilpa and her acolytes have covered Vasanth Nagar, Hemanth Nagar, Badami Nagar and others areas in the last three days. Corporators Mahesh Uppin, Meenakshi Vantamore, Asha Choudhari and others accompanied the chief minister’s wife on the campaign trail.
“We do no need any cine artiste to campaign for BJP. Our workers are the star campaigners for us,” she said.
She told reporters that the response during the door-to-door canvassing was very good and people, including slum-dwellers, told her that Shettar had done good work and implemented many welfare projects. Shettar would become the chief minister again.
“The canvassing is helping me to meet more people and know their problems,” Shilpa said, expressing confidence that Shettar would be elected this time also. “I am concentrating on this constituency and I am ready to canvass for the party in other areas too, if invited,” she said.