Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday campaigned in Bagalkot for the Congress Party’s candidate in the upcoming by-election, Umesh Meti, son of MLA HY Meti, even as the BJP escalated its campaign with multiple rallies and a rally in the city.
The elections, which will be held alongside the Davanagiri South polls, are scheduled to be held on April 9, and come in the wake of the deaths of prominent leaders HY Meitei and Chamanur Shivashankarappa, prompting both parties to recalibrate their strategies in constituencies with a deep-rooted political legacy.
Siddaramaiah framed the contest as a continuation of his father’s work and an endorsement of the state government’s social welfare agenda. Addressing a gathering at the Congress headquarters in the area, he urged voters to support the candidate while referring to the administration’s five assurance plans.
He said that the initiatives supported families below the poverty line, estimating that the beneficiaries receive between $5000 and $6000 per month through different programs. The Prime Minister also criticized the BJP’s tenure in Karnataka from 2019 to 2023, alleging that it did not bring development.
He also reconsidered the long-standing demand to raise the height of the Almatti Dam on the Krishna River, putting the onus on the Centre. “Even after 13 years, the Center has not issued a gazette notification. You must understand this. There is a BJP government at the Center and now in the opposition. Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar and I met the Central ministers several times but to no avail,” he said. He asked voters to seek an explanation from BJP candidate Veerana Charantimath on the issue.
BJP state president P Vijayendra said the party is gaining ground and expressed confidence in the outcome. He said voters would support the BJP candidate regardless of the Congress campaign and asserted that the party’s grassroots workers were actively canvassing votes since early morning.
He predicted a decisive victory for Charantimath, arguing that the local political climate favors the BJP. “No Congress tactics or conspiracies will succeed,” he said.
Vijayendra also criticized the Congress government, alleging that Bagalkot was overlooked despite its political importance to Siddaramaiah, who had won from Badami constituency in the district in 2018.
He accused the ruling party of trying to influence voters through improper means, saying it was trying to influence them with money and muscle power, but added that “conscious voters” had made their decision.
Describing Charantimath as a “people-friendly” leader, Vijayendra noted that the BJP candidate was attracting support beyond the party’s boundaries. “Even when members of Congress want him to win, there is nothing wrong if others support him as well,” he added. He further claimed that some Congress workers in both Bagalkot and Davanagere South were quietly supporting the BJP.
“Anyone who works for the victory of the BJP candidate will be welcomed,” he said, adding that the results would reveal the internal dynamics within both the parties.
(with PTI inputs)
