MP and BJP candidate Ramesh Jigajinagi appears to have handed ammunition to his opposition by appealing to voters to vote, not by looking at him but at Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The opposition, mainly the JD(S) which has fielded a candidate in the district, is now using the statement to drive home the message that Mr. Jigajinagi had already conceded defeat, which was why was asking for votes in Mr. Modi’s name instead of his own work.
On many occasions, Mr. Jigajinagi has told voters that as Mr. Modi has been “instrumental in developing the nation”, they should vote for the BJP, regardless of its candidate in the constituency. At several press conferences as well, he has said that people should vote by looking at Mr. Modi and his work, not at him.
“By making such statements, he is effectively admitting that he has done nothing for the development of the district even in 10 years of his tenure as MP. Since he has failed at his job, he is bringing in Modi’s name to excuse his failures,” said Devanand Chavan, JD(S) MLA whose wife, Sunita Chavan, has been fielded as the coalition candidate in Vijayapura constituency.
He challenged the MP to list out the development works started by him during his tenure. Ms. Sunita said at a press conference on Saturday, “The fact is that the MP has just nothing to say on development as he has done nothing. Except for making hollow promises, his contribution to the district is zero. That is why he is asking people to vote by looking at Modi.” The JD(S) is, however, hopeful of getting the people’s vote as they will not be “misled” by the emotional statements of Mr. Jigajinagi.