Karnataka assembly polls: As Congress dilly-dallys, BJP eyes Narasimharaja seat after 30 years

MYSURU: Even as Congress workers are confused with the party’s sitting Narasimharaja segment MLA Tanveer Sait’s stance that he would not like to contest the assembly polls owing to his health condition, the BJP is focusing on winning the seat after over 30 years.
The saffron party held a roadshow in the segment, where Muslims are in majority, on Sunday as part of Vijaysankalpa Yatra where senior leaders asked voters to elect a candidate who worship goddess Chamundeshwari.
The yatra was launched at Prasanna Ganapathi Temple in Naidu Nagar and passed through the main thoroughfares. BJP minister Kota Shrinivas Poojari, MPs Pratap Simha and BY Raghavendra led the yatra. Former mayor Sandesh Swami, BJP corporator M Satish, BJP leader HG Giridhar and Gandhi Nagar Giridhar, who are all eyeing the party ticket, were part of the yatra. Folk artists performed throughout the yatra, while the activists hailed Prime Minister Modi. The party leaders also opened the NR segment election office at Rajendra Nagar Circle.
During the yatra, the BJP leaders, including former minister KS Eshwarappa, visited civic workers colony in Gayatripuram and interacted with pourakarmikas about benefits they have received from the state and Union governments.
Addressing the voters, Mysuru MP said Congress leaders led by former CM Siddaramaiah did not visit Hindu activist Raju’s house after his murder in 2015. “It is time to teach Congress a lesson,” he said. Pointing out that the segment derives its name from a senior member of the Mysuru royal family, who worship goddess Chamundeshwari, Simha said only a devotee of the goddess should be elected at the constituency. He asked the party activists to make sure the Union government’s projects and schemes reach the beneficiaries.
BJP MP Raghavendra, who represents Shivamogga, said the party activists should educate the voters about the achievements of the state and the Central governments.
The BJP leaders also held roadshow in Chamundeshwari segment and at Krishnaraja and Chamaraja segments, which all are part of Mysuru city. Minister Kota Srinivasa Poojary stressed on schemes announced by the Bommai government for the welfare of the people and asked the workers to educate voters that the BJP has walked the talk.
Mysuru district minister absent
Even as BJP state leaders are struggling to explain why Chamarajanagar district minister V Somanna stayed away from the Vijaysankalpa Yatra in the border district, Mysuru district minister ST Somashekar also remained absent from the yatra even when it covered all the four urban assembly segments of the district. Though the yatra is touring Mysuru rural segments since Friday night, it entered the urban areas on Sunday but Somashekar did not attend it.