Karnataka CM Basavaraj Bommai asks Siddaramaiah to visit Hangal villages to see development

HAVERI/ VIJAYAPURA: With less than a week left for the byelection to Hangal and Sindgi assembly constituencies, the BJP, Congress and JD(S) have intensified their campaign.

While chief minister Basavaraj Bommai and his predecessor BS Yediyurappa continued their joint campaign for the party candidate Shivaraj Sajjanar on Saturday, Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar held separate rallies in Hangal in favour of Congress candidate Srinivas Mane. HD Kumaraswamy of JD(S) also campaigned for the party candidate for the first time in Hangal. They all are expected to hold a series of rallies on Sunday too.

The BJP and Congress continued to spar over development and political issues. A day after Siddaramaiah challenged him for a public debate on the issue of development of Hangal and questioned his ability to be the CM, Bommai offered to debate on a public platform. "Siddaramaiah should first visit the villages in Hangal assembly constituency to see the development before taking part in the debate," the CM said, on the sidelines of a public rally. He also read out the names of the villages which he wants the former CM to visit.

<p>Congress leader Siddaramaiah is showered petals during a bypoll rally at Uppunasi in Hangal assembly segment on Saturday.</p>

Bommai also accused the Congress of shedding crocodile tears in the name of minorities. "They shed crocodile tears for their voters and do nothing for them after winning polls," said the CM, dubbing the opposition party as a sinking ship.

Stepped down on my own: BSY

Reacting the allegations of the Congress, Yediyurappa said: "There was no pressure to resign from the CM post from the party brass. I stepped down on my own to pave way for a younger leader.'' He also said he will undertake a state-wide tour sometime after November 15.

Meanwhile, Kumaraswamy refuted the charges that the party fielded minority candidates to help the BJP. "Why was Siddaramaiah silent when JD(S) had fielded BZ Zameer Ahmed Khan (now with Congress) in a bypoll to Chamarajpet in 2005?" he asked.

At a rally, Siddaramaiah alleged the BJP removed Yediyurappa from the CM post, but the former is still campaigning for the party after income-tax raids against his close aides.