District Congress leader A N Mahesh has said that campaign for the Lok Sabha election has commenced in 10 blocks.  The BJP is fielding an outstation candidate for Udupi-Chikmagalur constituency, unlike the Congress.

Addressing a press meet here on Thursday, he said “there was no differences of opinion in our party. All the leaders will work unitedly for the victory of its candidate.” The Congress-led UPA government had responded to the problems of coffee growers by introducing several welfare schemes. He said that a delegation from coffee growing areas - Chikmagalur, Hassan and Shimoga, comprising of Congress leaders, coffee growers federation representatives and elected representatives had urged the government to implement several schemes.

Funds were released for the betterment of coffee growers in the form of loan waiver, rejuvenation of plantation,  irrigation  and purchasing of equipment. Criticising the BJP, he said when the BJP-led NDA government was in power, then the ministers had only given assurances and disappointed growers, he alleged.