Modi targets Nehru-Gandhi family at Chikkamagaluru rally

Continuing his attack on the Congress, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday asked people at a rally in Chikkamagaluru whether Indira Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi ever returned to their constituencies in Karnataka after winning the polls.

Former prime minister Indira Gandhi won from the Chikkamagaluru constituency in 1978 after the National Emergency. Her daughter-in-law Sonia contested from Ballari in 1998.

Modi came down heavily on the Congress and the Nehru-Gandhi family at the rally attended by around 30,000 people.

Three BJP candidates from neighbouring Hassan district have also joined the rally. Chikkamagaluru district has five constituencies - Chikkamagaluru, Sringeri, Mudigere, Tarikere and Kadur.

Chikkamagaluru MLA C T Ravi has represented the constituency for three successive times. The Congress is fielding B L Shankar, a rich and well-regarded farmer, while the JD(S) is fielding B H Harish, a vegetable wholesale merchant from Belur.

Chikkamagaluru constituency is proving to be a good fight and the BJP might have to sweat it out for a win. But Modi's address today could provide the firepower for the saffron outfit.