Daijiworld Media Network - Raichur (MS)

Raichur, Mar 21: Close on the heels of the bye-election in the state being announced, BJP held a huge convention at Maski in the district on Saturday, March 20, for BJP candidate Pratap Gowda Patil.

Coronavirus protocol was violated blatantly on the occasion. People gathered in large numbers and many were not wearing masks, according to reports.

Bye-election has announced for two legislative assembly and one Lok Sabha seat in the state. The BJP team included state president Nalin Kumar Kateel, Dchief ministers Savadi and Karajola, ministers Eshwarappa and Sriramulu who sought votes in favour of Pratap Gowda Patil.

BJP state president Nalin Kumar Kateel said, "Congress has broken into two in Karnataka. This party will be completely routed in the coming days. They have not taken action against KG Halli, DJ Halli riot accused Sampat Raj, though he put fire to the house of their own MLA. This is a witness to the groupism in the Congress party.

"BJP is a winning party and Congress is getting defeated everywhere. Leader of opposition Siddaramaiah, who does not stick with any political party for long, is going to tender his resignation in a month. Earlier Siddaramaiah had left JD(S) backstabbing his own Guru Deve Gowda. Now the Congress party is losing its existence. That is why he is going to resign in one month. He has got 90 pairs of clothes stitched for the same purpose," said Nalin.

Kateel further said, "Chief minister Yediyurappa is a charioteer like Krishna for these bye-elections, while B Y Vijayendra is like Arjuna. Sriramulu and N Ravikumar are like Bheema and Sahadeva. In this battle of Kurukshetra victory of Pandavas is guaranteed."

Speaking on the occasion, Eshwarappa, as usual, made a verbal attack on former chief minister Siddaramaiah. He also said that people of rural Karnataka have supported the BJP government due to our pro-people programmes.

Chief minister Yediyurappa said, "Our victory in all the bye-elections is for sure. We have presented a good budget and have done good work. So this time we are sure of victory."

Minister Sriramulu said that he will provide 7.5% reservation for SC. Coronavirus precautions were not taken at the Maski bye-election campaign of BJP. Though the district administration had restricted the number of people to 500, more than 20,000 people gathered for the convention. Social distancing was not maintained and scores of people did not wear masks.

Activists of the committee for banning alcohol in the state held protests on the road as they were not allowed to submit their appeal to the chief minister. At the same time, one more protest was also held urging reservation for the Madiga community.