Ballari: Launching his campaign in Ballari for the Lok Sabha bypoll, former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday took on BJP leader B. Sriramulu in an obvious attempt to discredit him and hurt the chances of his sister J. Shantha, who has been fielded by the saffron party from the constituency.
“Sriramulu doesn't know what Article 371 J is although he hails from the Ballari district in Hyderabad-Karnataka region, which was granted special status under it, but he knows all about IPC sections 326, 307, 323 and 420," Mr Siddaramaiah said, hinting at the alleged criminal past of the BJP leader.
Addressing a public meeting in Hampasagara village, he said Mr Sriramulu had never opened his mouth in the Lok Sabha despite being elected to it by the people of Ballari. “Sriramulu made no demand for a farm loan waiver in the Lok Sabha and nor has he brought any special package to Ballari. He doesn't know anything about democracy or the parliamentary system, but is arrogant and is familiar only with money politics," he charged, adding, “Why should people elect such candidates again? Should they be elected only for decoration? Both Sriramulu and his sister, Shantha don’t speak good Kannada either. They are not worthy to be in the Lok Sabha from Karnataka.”
Ridiculing Mr Sriramulu for calling Congress candidate, V S Ugrappa an outsider, he asked, "Was Sriramulu a native of Badami when he contested against me in recent Assembly election from that constituency?"
Recalling that the BJP leader was a nobody in politics when Mr Ugrappa was the state Legislative Council, Mr Siddaramaiah contended that the Congress leader was a good orator and must represent Ballari in the Lok Sabha in the larger interest of its people.
