MYSURU: Former Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president G Parameshwar endured some embarrassing moments and so did his former party colleague A H Vishwanath as voters displayed their over frequent polls on one hand, and efforts by Congress Legislature Party leader Siddaramaiah to wrest the Chief Minister's post, during electioneering in the run-up to next month's crucial bypolls to the Assembly, on Monday.
Dr Parameshwar, who led the state unit of Congress over a record tenure of eight years, was stumped by a googly from some voters at a rally in Bannikuppe in Hunsur taluk when they quizzed him as to why he could not make it to the Chief Minister's gaddi though he held the post of KPCC president for two terms.
Some voters asked him why they should vote for Congress as Mr Siddaramaiah was nursing ambitions of returning to power.
“You were the state unit president for almost ten years. Why were you not elected the Chief Minister” was the query which prompted Dr Parameshwar to make a hasty exit.
This episode occurred hours after the former deputy chief minister told the media here: “We are facing the elections under his (Mr Siddaramaiah's) leadership,” and lambasted BJP leaders for alleging that the former chief minister was rendered a lone ranger by his party.
The former KPCC president maintained that Mr Siddaramaiah was leading the party during ongoing campaign his visit to various shrines in Mysuru and Nanjangud as well, and mocked at BJP leaders for attempting make an issue about the former chief minister campaigning alone. “Going by the situation of defectors in Madhya Pradesh (20 defectors were trounced in Assembly polls), we have already won the bypolls. The BJP has to win at least eight seats to retain power, but even if the party wins a couple of more seats, how long can the party remain in power if a couple of legislators decided to walk over to our side? So how can ministers like B Sriramulu keep announcing that Mr Vishwanath will be appointed a minister when the future of this government is in doubt?” he told media persons later in the day.
Meanwhile, Mr Vishwanath found the going tough when he went to campaign at Shravanahalli and Kolgatta villages in Hunsur taluk.
“Whom did you ask before quitting as MLA? Whom do we meet when we problems and want to seek development of our areas?” were questions posed by angry voters.
Video clips of these angry interactions have gone viral on social media since Monday morning with Mr Vishwanath attempting to convince villagers with his plea, “We seek your votes, but it is your choice to elect us.”
