Madhu seeks Lambani votes, BJP to step up campaign from tomorrow

Shivamogga: It was a day of hectic political activity in Shivamogga on Saturday. Former minister Revu Naik Belamagi, a Lambani leader, campaigned for alliance candidate Madhu Bangarappa, eyeing huge votes of the community. Madhu Bangarappa also met farmer leader H R Basavarajappa at his residence seeking the votes of the farmers' organisations. Meanwhile, BJP district unit president S Rudre Gowda said that a galaxy of BJP leaders will visit the constituency from Monday onwards and campaign for party candidate B Y Raghavendra.
Belamagi, a Lambani community leader and former minister in the BJP government, who is presently in the JD(S), alleged that former chief minister and BJP state unit president BS Yeddyurappa politically stabbed him from behind. “BYS is engaged in revenge politics. He assured me a ticket till the last minute and later cheated me. I am here to campaign for alliance candidate Madhu Bangarappa,” he said.

“I was the first one to resign for the sake of Yeddyurappa. I was his trusted lieutenant. But finally he let me down,” he alleged.

“I am touring the entire state. As per the instructions of JD(S) supremo HD Deve Gowda, I also campaigned in Kalaburugi,” he said.

“No one invited me for the campaign here. But I am here to teach a lesson to the BJP,” he said.

There are a large number of Lambani voters in Shivamogga, Shivamogga Rural and Bhadravati constituencies.

Meanwhile, alliance candidate Madhu Bangarappa met farmer leader H R Basavarajappa at his residence. Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Madhu said that he met Basavarajappa seeking his support. His father late S Bangarappa had introduced a number of pro-farmer schemes and the present JD(S)-Congress alliance government is also implementing a number of long-pending demands of the farmers, he said.

Basavarajappa said that a decision to support the alliance candidate will be taken after consulting all the leaders. “For the past few years, the organisation remained neutral in the election. This time, a decision will be taken after consulting all the leaders,” he said.

Meanwhile, the BJP is all set to launch the third round of campaign in the constituency. Speaking to reporters, S Rudre Gowda, BJP district unit president, said senior leaders including party president Amit Shah, defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman and others will participate in the campaign," he said.

“We have already contacted over 8 lakh voters in the constituency,” he said.