V Somanna starts campaign in Varuna, Chamarajanagar

MYSURU: Housing minister V Somanna, who is also the district minister of Chamarajanagar, launched his campaign for Varuna and Chamarajanagar segments on Thursday with a temple run and meeting religious leaders. He met Suttur Mutt seer Shivaratri Deshikendra Swami and visited Sri Chamundeshwari Temple atop Chamundi Hills before starting the campaign.
At Varuna, he held meetings with the party workers. He also met senior Dalit leader and BJP MP V Srinivasa Prasad discussed the political situation in Varuna and Chamarajanagar.
Speaking to reporters, Somanna said he has invited former CM BS Yediyurappa to join him while submitting nomination papers. “I will file nomination papers for Varuna on April 17, and for Chamarajanagar on April 19. BJP leaders have decided not to limit me to Bengaluru. So they have sent me to these two constituencies,” he added.
On fighting against former CM Siddaramaiah at Varuna, he said both of them are contemporary leaders, and there is nothing special about the fight. He also downplayed the caste calculations. “I don’t know what my caste is. I’m seeking votes on development issues,” he said.
Mysuru MP Pratap Simha, who accompanied the minister, alleged that Siddaramaiah did not care for the constituency. “Varuna is now like an orphan. Siddaramaiah never cared for his people,” he alleged.
Meanwhile, Nagashri Pratap, an aspirant for a BJP ticket in Chamarajanagar, held a meeting with her supporters, and the latter urged her to contest as an independent.
Nagashri said she will make her decision in two days. This comes amidst Gundlupet Congress candidate HM Ganesh Prasad submitting his nomination papers at Gundlupet. Prasad, who was accompanied by a large crowd, submitted his papers after a procession.