Chamundeshwari: HDK, CM up the campaign ante

While JD(S) state president H D Kumaraswamy concluded his three-day election campaign in the Chamundeshwari Assembly segment on Monday, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah commenced his third round of canvassing in the constituency.

Chamundeshwari is considered as a high-profile segment as Chief Minister Siddaramaiah himself is the Congress candidate. Siddaramaiah is back in the segment after a gap of 12 years. It may be mentioned that during his first and second round of campaign, Siddaramaiah had to face embarrassment as a few of his supporters were denied support.

Kumaraswamy, during his three-day campaign in favour of JD(S) candidate G T Devegowda, took out roadshows along with Devegowda in a specially designed bus in nearly 70 villages across the constituency from Saturday. On day three, he visited nearly 20 villages.

Though the third-day campaign was scheduled to commence at 7.30 am, the event started at 11 am from Hootagalli. The roadshow passed through Belavadi, Koorgalli and Maidanahalli. The JD(S) leaders received a warm welcome in all the villages.

When the vehicle reached Koorgalli, a few women performed ‘aarathi’ to Kumaraswamy and wished him to become the next chief minister. They requested him to solve farmers’ issues.

Kumaraswamy said, “I don’t have the capacity to conduct elections with money power. My health condition is also not good. Siddaramaiah is luring the voters in the name of caste and with money power. The people, who have faith in democracy, will support the JD(S). People’s love and blessings is my strength”.

Speaking to reporters, Kumaraswamy said, the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) president Asaduddin Owaisi has extended support to the JD(S) in Karnataka. The support of AIMIM, Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS), Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) to the JD(S) will definitely help the JD(S) to secure 113 seats. The parties want the regional party to come to power in the state and thus they have come under an alliance, he said.

“The Congress party is emotionally cheating Muslims. The Congress has failed to protect them and also in providing necessary facilities. But, the JD(S) has treated them as their brothers and thus Owaisi has extended his support,” he said.

CM campaigns

Similarly, Siddaramaiah, who arrived in a special flight to Mysuru on Monday morning, visited Siddappaji temple, Ramamandira and Manteswamy temple in Lingambudi Palya. The party supporters welcomed him by bursting crackers and with garlands. The supporters also donated a sword to the CM.

The CM will camp in the Chamundeshwari Assembly segment for five days from Monday. On day one, he took out roadshows at 18 villages. He visited several temples at the villages and also visited a few houses.

PWD Minister H C Mahadevappa accompanied the CM during the campaign.

Siddaramaiah participated in a conference organised for Bhovi community people. During his address, the CM said, after 2006, I am returning to the constituency. I will file my nomination on April 20, he said.

The CM said the JD(S) leaders have been claiming that the party is secular, but they have joined hands with communal parties. “What moral right do they have to claim themselves as secular,” he asked.