Congress candidate C.H. Vijayashankar, fielded from the Mysuru Lok Sabha constituency, launched his first official campaign in the city limits on Sunday and sought votes on development issues.

He launched the campaign from K.R. Mohalla in the city and was accompanied by local party leaders including N.K. Somashekar and others. However, JD(S) leader in the district G.T. Deve Gowda continued to be conspicuous by absence. Mr. Vijayashankar said that the unity of the coalition partners was inevitable in the interest of the country.

He told mediapersons that the coalition government in the State had to continue in power and more importantly, the same spirit of coalition and cooperation was what would help bring them to power at the Centre and dislodge the NDA government. “It is inevitable to stay united in the interest of the country. Minor differences will be ironed out given the larger issues at stake,” said Mr. Vijayashankar.

Earlier in the day, he met JD(S) supremo and former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda in Bengaluru. He claimed that the former assured him of full cooperation.

“Mr. Deve Gowda blessed me today and has assured intensive campaigning with other leaders of his party in the days ahead in both Mysuru and Kodagu regions to ensure the victory of the coalition partners,” said Mr. Vijayashankar. He latter visited a local temple in K.R. Mohalla before going on a road show.

Meanwhile, the BJP bandwagon continued to roll in Mysuru and the party leaders held a ‘Sneha Milan’ with IT-BT professionals to woo the young crowd and first-time voters. “Apart from a mass contact programme through public rallies, we are focussing on outreach programmes to reach out to specific audience and explain to them why they should vote for the BJP,” a party functionary said.

The party rank and file was also ensconced at a convention centre to witness the live town hall relay of Mr. Modi’s address to them late in the evening.