'Guru-Shishya' jugalbandi infusing life into coalition

Coalition coordination committee chairman Siddaramaiah, on Friday, trained guns on Independent candidate from Mandya Lok Sabha seat Sumalatha Ambareesh, asking the people not to trust the candidate backed by the BJP, a communal party.

In a joint campaign with JD(S) supremo H D Deve Gowda at Nagamangala, Siddaramaiah appealed to people backward classes and minorities to vote for the coalition candidate Nikhil Kumaraswamy.

Taking a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he said, "A 56-inch wide chest alone is not enough, he (Modi) should also have a compassionate heart to feel the pulse of poor.

The BJP is contesting from 27 parliamentary seats in the state, but the saffron party has not fielded even a single person from the backward classes, he said.

Siddaramaiah said, a few vested interests were spreading rumours that he was indirectly supporting Sumalatha to settle an old score with Gowda.

JD(S) supremo H D Deve Gowda was all praise for Siddaramaiah. “We both worked together for several years. We parted ways under some circumstances. Now, we are on the same page and stage. Siddaramaiah was one of the best Finance ministers. As chief minister, he implemented various schemes like Anna Bhagya and Ksheera Bhagya for the benefit of poor.”

Pointing out to the developments in Mandya, Gowda said, “I have struggled for the Cauvery water and staged a hunger protest for it. You should vote for Nikhil to inspire me to continue working for the people.”

Both leaders campaigned at Malavalli taluk also. Their joint campaign is being termed as Guru-Shishya’s united effort to clear the confusion over the alliance.