In view of the severe drought situation, the State government has requested the Election Commission to relax the model code of conduct to undertake drought-relief works, so that the officials not on poll duty can review and address the issues, Deputy Chief Minister G. Parameshwara said.
Mr. Parameshwara was speaking to presspersons before leaving for Chincholi for to campaign for the election here on Tuesday.
He accused BJP State president B.S. Yeddyurappa of failing to apprise the State’s drought conditions to the Centre, resulting in inordinate delay in getting relief for the farming community.
The Union government has been giving Karnataka “step-motherly” treatment , he added.
Rubbishing allegations by BJP leaders that the Congress had worked against former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda in Tumakuru, Mr. Parameshwara exuded confidence of Mr. Gowda’s victory.
Replying to a question, he said: “The Jarkiholi brothers will stay in the Congress and work for the party”.
Condemning Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s remarks on the former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, he said that the BJP leaders were resorting to personal attacks as they had nothing to say about his governance.
Mr. Parameshwara asserted that Subhash Rathod, Congress candidate from Chincholi assembly segment, will win by a big margin.
He said that Umesh Jadhav, BJP candidate for Kalaburagi Lok Sabha constituency, had quit the Congress for selfish motives and the people of constituency would teach him a lesson.
Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president Dinesh Gundu Rao said that Mr. Yeddyurappa wants to come to power “by hook or by crook”.
The BJP leaders have neglected for the development of the State, and were only interested in “personal gains” to meet their political end.
Lashing out at former Deputy Chief Minister K.S. Eshwarappa for his insensitive remarks on the issue of rape of minor girls, Mr.Rao said that the former had revealed his inhuman side.
Congress leader M. Mallikarjun Kharge , Mr. Parameshwara and Mr. Rao campaigned at Chandankera, Chengta and Ratkal villages coming under Chincholi constituency.