Bagalkot, 30 March

Poll-bound Bagalkot on Monday witnessed a high-decibel electioneering with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and BJP State President BY Vijayendra attempting to woo the voters.

The bypolls for Bagalkot and Davangere South assembly constituencies will take place on 9 April. They were mandated by the deaths of MLAs HY Meti and Shamanur Shivashankarappa, respectively.

Meti’s son, Umesh, will contest against the BJP’s Veeranna Charantimath.

Almatti to eradicating poverty: CM sets the tone 

Sporting a vermillion on his forehead, Siddaramaiah addressed a public meeting in the district headquarters when campaigning for Umesh.

The Congress supported the Below Poverty Line families through the five guarantees and indirectly gave them the benefit of Rs 5,000 to Rs 6,000 a month, he said.

“Even after 13 years, the Centre did not issue the gazette notification,” he said. “There is the BJP government at the Centre and now in the Opposition. Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar and I met the Central ministers several times, but to no avail.”

He called on people to ask Charantimath why it has not been notified in the gazette.

Siddaramaiah also alleged that there was no development in the State during BJP’s tenure from 2019 to 2023. He recalled HY Meti’s contributions while urging people to vote for Umesh.

CM’s rebirth, but no DVPT: BYV hits back

BJP leaders and workers took out a march in the city holding party flags, posters and banners.

Speaking to reporters, Vijayendra said that even though Bagalkot district gave Siddaramaiah a “political rebirth”, it has been neglected by the government. Siddaramaiah had contested the 2018 assembly election from the Badami assembly segment in the district and won.

Vijayendra said voters were aware of ground realities and said, “No tactics or conspiracies of the Congress will work”.

“Even Congress members want Charantimath to win, Vijayendra said, alleging that the Congress was using money and muscle power to win the bypoll.