Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)
Bengaluru, Oct 24: Electoral campaigning for the bypoll is gaining momentum as leading political leaders have entered the fray to gain attention of voters. Even as former chief minister, Siddaramaiah, and former minister, B Sriramulu, got engaged in a war of words in Ballari constituency, former Prime Minister, H D Deve Gowda, who has been involved with electioneering for party candidate from Shivamogga, Madhu Bangarappa, visited various prayer centres and sought support of the divine for the victory of his party candidate.
Speaking at Shivamogga, Deve Gowda insisted that BJP does not have the moral right to criticize former chief minister, Bangarappa. He reminded the BJP that Bangarappa had joined that party and ensured that it won maximum seats in the year 2004. He also questioned the saffron party about the way they handled Bangarappa and wanted to know why he left that party within a year of joining it. "Let BJP come out with details of how it behaved with Veerashaiva leader, Rajashekara Murthy, after welcoming him into the party. Let them retrospect as to how they entered into alliance with Ramakrishna Hegde and then treated him badly," he challenged.
On the second day in succession, Sriramulu and Siddaramaiah exchanged barbs on Tuesday. Siddaramaiah, who had come down strongly on Sriramulu on Monday, continued with the tirade on Tuesday, during which he also used strong words against former minister, Gali Janardhana Reddy.
Addressing a public meeting at Hampi, Sriramulu said that using unparliamentary words either during electoral campaigning or other occasions does not behove of mature persons. He said he has been keenly watching the language being used by Siddaramaiah and felt that use of unparliamentary words is a black spot for the entire political system.
At the Sandur meeting, both Siddaramaiah and MLA, Sathish Jarkiholi, were found on the same dais. But the fact that they did not speak to one another dropped enough hints to indicate that all is not well in Congress party.
BJP state president B S Yeddyurappa addressed the people in Mandya, where also the bypoll is held.