BJP leaders, including candidate for Raichur Lok Sabha seat Raja Amareshwar Naik, on Saturday campaigned in several villages in Shahpur and Yadgir Assembly constituencies of Yadgir district, which come under Raichur Lok Sabha segment.
At Dornahalli in Shahpur taluk, Mr. Naik said he was confident of winning and India would re-elect Prime Minister Narendra Modi. “The incumbent MP from the Congress had done nothing for the people of the constituency and they will vote for a change this time,” he said. The former Minister A.B. Maalakaraddi, who recently joined the BJP said Congress candidates in Raichur and Kalaburagi Lok Sabha constituencies would be defeated this time.
He also took exception to the statement of Shamanur Shivashankarappa, senior leader and MLA, that the Veershaiva and Lingayat community will back Mr. Kharge.
“Has anyone given him [Mr. Shivashankarappa] permission to announce that? He was misusing the power of his post, president of the Akhila Bharat Veerashaiva Mahasabha, by supporting Mr. Kharge and projecting that it was from the whole community,” he added.
Attacking Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy for expanding his family into politics, Narasimha Naik, MLA, said that after election the Hassan and the Mandya candidates from the JD(S) will disappear and H.D. Deve Gowda, JD(S) supremo, will have to search for them asking: Nikhil ellidiyappa (Where are you Nikhil).
Chandrashekhargowda Magnur, president of BJP district unit, MLA Venkatareddy Mudnal, former MLA Veerabasantreddy Mudnal, Lalitha Anapur, Shanabhupalreddy, S.P.Nadekar and others were present.
Tpparaju Hawaldar, former MLA from Raichur (Rural) Assembly constituency, held several meetings in Chandrabanda, Ganmuru, Katletkur, Kalavaladoddi, Atkur, and Yapaladinni villages.