Bangalore Rural Lok Sabha constituency, which is facing bypolls on August 21, provides an interesting contrast in the campaigning styles of the Congress and the Janata Dal (Secular) which are locked in a political battle.
Campaigning ends at 5 p.m. on Monday.
While the ruling Congress has opting for sheltered venues such as community halls and kalyana mantaps for its campaign meetings in view of the sudden downpours, the Janata Dal (Secular) is holding roadside meetings and also staging road shows. A battery of Congress leaders, including Union and State Ministers, is holding election meetings at such halls and showcasing the programmes of the Congress government in the State and at the Centre.
They are focussing on the Janata Dal(S) tie-up with the Bharatiya Janata Party.
Interestingly, in some places, people are going to listen to H.D. Kumaraswamy of the Janata Dal(S) and also offering him money to meet his party’s election expenditure, as Congress leader D.K. Shivakumar has appealed to the Election Commission to direct a cooperative bank against releasing loan sought by Javare Gowda, in-charge of election campaign for the Janata Dal(S). “Give me money and vote too” is my appeal to the electorate,” said Mr. Kumaraswamy.
Downplaying the tie-up with the BJP, Mr. Kumaraswamy chose to harp on “Operation Hand” (on the lines of the BJP’s “Operation Lotus”) of the Congress, and much like his father, H.D. Deve Gowda, launched a tirade against the alleged Congress “plan to finish the Janata Dal(S) off politically”.
