Eshwarappa kicks off campaigning

K.S. Eshwarappa, Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council and candidate of the Bharatiya Janata Party for the Assembly election from Shivamogga segment, kicked off his campaigning here on Saturday by visiting mutts.

Mr. Eshwarappa visited Basava Kendra at Venkatesh Nagar in the city and held a discussion with Marulasidda Swamy. Following this, he visited Ramakrishna Vivekananda Ashram at Kallugangur on the outskirts of the city and offered prayers to Goddess Kali there. Mr. Eshwarappa was felicitated by Vinayananda Saraswathi Swamy of Ramakrishna Vivekananda Ashram.

In the afternoon, Mr. Eshwarappa took blessings from Prasannanatha Swamy at Adichunchanagiri Mutt and from Mallikarjuna Murugharajendra Swamy at Bekkinakalmutt.

Speaking to presspersons later, Mr. Eshwarappa said that he would seek votes based on development work. The strong cadre-base and booth-level organisational network of the BJP would help him win the election with a comfortable margin, he added. He is likely to file his nomination papers on April 19.