Karnataka elections: Declare a Lingayat as CM candidate, senior BJP leader V Somanna dares Congress

MYSURU: Senior BJP leader and Lingayat strongman V Somanna on Thursday dared the Congress to declare a Lingayat leader as the party’s chief ministerial candidate. Terming the Congress’ empathy towards Lighayat leaders who quit BJP and joined it as “hogwash”, Somanna asked the Congress high command to declare a Lingayat leader as the CM candidate, if it was serious about promoting the community.
Speaking to reporters during campaigning in the Chamarajanagar assembly segment, Somanna said now that former CM Jagadish Shettar and former DCM Laxman Savadi have joined the Congress, they are projecting BJP as anti-Lingayat.
“The Congress needs to explain the treatment it meted out to former CMs Veerendra Patil and S Nijalingappa and former MP M Rajashekara Murthy,” the BJP minister said, adding that the Congress cannot fool the Lingayat community. He claimed that former CM Jagadish Shettar will not survive in the Congress for over six months.
In Chamarajanagar segment, Somanna received warm reception from the voters, who hailed him as the next CM. The BJP leader visited 20 villages on the day, meeting people and seeking their support. Somanna is contesting against opposition leader Siddaramaiah at Varuna segment in Mysuru district.
Don’t sell your votes, PDO urges people
Chowthi gram panchayat development officer MH Mohankumar on Thursday urged tribal voters not to sell their votes. He was speaking at a mobile voter awareness drive undertaken at various tribal hamlets of Chowthi gram panchayat limits. He asked the voters to focus on development of the area and education of their children.