Chikkodi: Ananth Kumar to campaign, not PM Narendra Modi

Belgaum: Top national leaders of the BJP and Congress are reluctant to campaign in the bypoll for Chikkodi-Sadalga constituency even as local leaders and candidates frantically try to rope them in to boost their ongoing campaign.

Some BJP leaders are in touch with national leaders to get Prime Minister Narendra Modi to campaign in the constituency but he is unlikely to make it. Already, Union Minister Ananth Kumar has given his consent to campaign in Chikkodi in the next few days.

BJP leaders are trying to build a mood in favour of their candidate, Mahantesh Kavatgimath as he considered weak compared to his rival Ganesh Hukkeri of the Congress.

Rajya Sabha MP Prabhakar Kore and senior BJP leader Umesh Katti are accompanying Mr Kavatgimath to most election meetings and rallies. The leaders feel  the chances of Mr Kavatgimath will be bright if Mr Modi campaigns for him in Chikkodi.