Hubballi: The poll campaign is sizzling in Kundagol Assembly constituency with leaders indulging in a verbal dual over the demise of former minister C.S. Shivalli which necessitated the bypoll.
The BJP leader B. Sriramulu blamed the untimely death of the Congress leader on harassment by leaders of the coalition partners. Addressing media persons during a roadshow at Betadur village of Kundagol taluk, he said the time has come for voters of the constituency to take revenge against the coalition government for the death of Shivalli.
Asserting that the BJP candidate S.I. Chikkanagoudar too has sympathy working in his favour, he said he had undertaken a lot of developmental activities when B.S. Yeddyurappa was Chief Minister.
Expressing confidence that the BJP will win both the Kundagol and Chincholi Assembly by-elections, Sriramulu said that this will increase the strength of the party to 106 seats and help in Yeddyurappa becoming Chief Minister again.
Stating that he will be camping in the constituency for four days, he predicted that the good performance of the BJP in the Lok Sabha and Assembly byelections will help the party gain power in the state after May 23.
The former MP had visited all temples and tried to woo dalit and backward class people during his campaign in villages. Thousands of women folk had accompanied him.
Rebutting the charges made by Sriramulu, Water Resources Minister D.K. Shivakumar, who is campaigning in the constituency, advised the BJP leader to lodge a complaint at the police station if he has doubts about the involvement of the coalition in the death of Shivalli. Urging Sriramulu not to earn cheap publicly by indulging in ‘dirty politics,’ the Congress leader said he should not lower the image of politicians by giving such irresponsible statements.
Meanwhile, Congress leaders held a meeting to prepare a stategy for the by-election and assigned responsibility to former legislators and party office-bearers.
