Bygones are bygones, Siddaramaiah, GTD rub shoulders during Mysuru blitz

Mysuru: After a poll tour with JD(S) supremo Mr H.D. Deve Gowda for a full five days, former CM and Congress leader Siddaramaiah on Sunday campaigned with JD(S) leader and minister G.T. Deve Gowda in Chamundeswari assembly constituency in Mysuru. In the May assembly polls, Mr GT Devegowda had trounced Mr Siddaramaiah in Chamundeswari constituency at a time when the coalition partners Congress and JD(S) did not have a poll pact.

All that was forgotten as the two leaders shook hands and lighted a lamp together before campaigning for Mysuru- Kodagu Congress candidate Mr C.H. Vijayshankar at a public meetings in Kadkola.

In his speech, Mr Siddaramaiah said, "I and GT Devegowda were together until 2006. After that we used to interact but were in different parties. He defeated me in Chamundeswari but have we not come together now? In order to keep communal forces away from power, to save the Constitution and democracy, we need to stay united forgetting all differences," he said.
At Jayapura, the former CM targeted Prime Minister Mr Narendra Modi saying he is delivering empty speeches. “Having a 56 inch chest is not enough, there should be a kind heart inside which responds to the needs of the poor, farmers and dalits," he said.

Mr GT Devegowda said, "I and Siddaramaiah are ‘Jodeththugalu’ (pair of cows) of Mysuru region. We have worked together earlier and we have conducted several such meetings from 1983 to 2006. Since we fought each other in the Chamundeswari election, JD(S) workers were worried if we would unite. When we have united, you should give us a good lead in Chamundeswari and strive for the victory of Congress candidates in all constituencies including Mysuru-Kodagu. We need to stay united to ensure Mr H.D. Kumarswamy continues as CM for the next four years," he said.

Keep yourself updated on Lok Sabha Elections 2019 with our round-the-clock coverage -- breaking news, updates, analyses et all. Happy reading.