The Hindu
GAURIBIDANUR (Chickaballapur District), Apr 12: Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa on Saturday launched the Bharatiya Janata Party’s election campaign in Chickaballapur constituency by asking voters to defeat Congress candidate and former Chief Minister M. Veerappa Moily who was an “outsider” to the region.
Addressing a huge rally at Gauribidanur, Yeddyurappa said after stepping down as Chief Minister Moily had stayed away from State politics and questioned his contribution to the State in the past 15 years. Moily had confined himself to Mangalore and was defeated thrice in his home district. Now, he has shifted to Chickaballapur.
“Please send him back safely to Dakshina Kannada,” Yeddyurappa said.
The Chief Minister said the Congress was playing musical chairs by fielding Moily of Dakshina Kannada in Chickaballapur and C.K. Jaffer Sharief, who had sought the ticket for Bangalore Central, from Bangalore North.
Responding to a reported statement by Leader of the Opposition M. Mallikarjun Kharge on the achievements of his Government, Yeddyurappa said he would take political retirement if he failed to provide good roads and better health and educational facilities before the end of his five-year term as Chief Minister. He said BJP would win 24 seats in the State.
Some prominent Congress leaders from Gauribidanur taluk, who are supporters of Chickaballapur MP R.L. Jalappa, joined the BJP on the occasion. Among those who joined the BJP were R. Ashok Kumar, K.V. Hanume Gowda, Mohammed Abubaker and S. Ramesh.