Bagalkot, 5 April 

Veteran BJP leader BS Yediyurappa on Sunday alleged that Congress leaders came to campaign for bypolls in two Karnataka constituencies with "suitcases full of money", under the illusion that they can win with cash, liquor and muscle power.

But people will "teach them a lesson," the former Chief Minister told reporters.

He also accused the Congress government in the state of indulging in corruption, "intoxicated by power".

"There is no need to have any doubt. They (ruling Congress leaders) have come with suitcases full of money under the illusion that they can win the election with money, liquor and muscle power," Yediyurappa said, taking a dig at CM Siddaramaiah and his cabinet for camping in poll-bound constituencies for about a week now.

People have decided to ensure the victory of BJP candidates, and will reject the Congress' allurements, he added.

"By ensuring the victory of BJP's candidates in both Bagalkot and Davanagere South, people have decided to teach a lesson to the corrupt Congress government and CM Siddaramaiah, who have indulged in large-scale corruption intoxicated with power," he said, and claimed that BJP is getting good response from the public during the campaign.

Bypolls for the Bagalkot and Davanagere South Assembly constituencies will be held on 9 April. The polls were necessitated following the deaths of senior Congress MLAs HY Meti and Shamanur Shivashankarappa, respectively.

Yediyurappa alleged that the Congress was indulging in a "daylight robbery" by emptying the government's treasury.

Responding to a question, he said, the minority Muslim community is also aware of the Congress's "true colours", and will not fall for their allurements. "I think they, too, will stand by us," he added.

The BJP leader said that Siddaramaiah knows Congress is certain to lose in the bypolls and has therefore been campaigning in both constituencies for about a week now.