Dalit leader of JD(S) corners CM at corner meeting

Caustic campaign

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had to face an embarrassment during the election campaign on Wednesday when a man openly refused to vote for Siddaramaiah at Hale Kesare coming under Chamundeshwari Assembly segment here.

Siddaramaiah was taking out a roadshow in the area, when he identified Dalit leader Mariswamy, member of Siddalingapura Gram Panchayat, and sought his vote.

"Don't forget you were with me earlier,” the chief minister said.

But Mariswamy said, “I will not support you. I am in the JD(S).”

The chief minister tried to convince him and said, “JD(S) and BJP are two sides of the same coin. Be with JD(S), but vote for me”. However, Mariswamy was adamant. He said, “Whatever the JD(S) might be. I will neither vote for you nor will I come with you.”

When Siddaramaiah told Mariswamy, "Okay go, don’t come with me," Mariswamy replied, "It is my village and you are in my place. You have to leave the place and not me.”

Mariswamy continued, saying, "A big salutation to the one who made you the deputy chief minister in the past," indirectly referring to JD(S) supremo H D Deve Gowda. To this, Siddaramaiah replied, "That was then. Now, I am the chief minister."

As Mariswamy turned to go, JD(S) workers shouted slogans in favour of the party and its candidate against Siddaramaiah in Chamundeshwari, G T Devegowda. The workers also asked the chief minister to leave the place.