Last day of public campaign sees hectic political activities in 14 constituencies

Leaders hold roadshows, bike rallies, mass meetings to reach out to maximum number of electorate

Congress supporters waving at the helicopter in which former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah arrived at Mudhol in Bagalkot district on Sunday.

Sunday saw leaders from across the political spectrum sweating it out in north Karnataka districts. They took advantage of the day being Sunday to reach out to a maximum number of electorate on the last day of public campaign for the polling to be held on Tuesday.

Besides Shivamogga in Malnad, Davangere in central Karnataka, and Uttara Kannada on the coast, polling will be held in Dharwad, Haveri, Chikkodi, Belagavi, Koppal, Raichur, Kalaburagi, Bidar, Vijayapura, Bagalkot, and Ballari in north Karnataka.

In Kalaburagi and adjoining urban pockets, which witnessed intense political activities on Sunday, AICC general secretary Ghulam Nabi Azad and BJP general secretary Muralidhar Rao joined separate public events, including roadshows and mass meetings.

BJP supporters in Kalaburagi on Sunday.

While BJP leaders were engaged in addressing press conferences and holding roadshows, Congress leaders continued their community gatherings, with party veteran M. Mallikarjun Kharge, candidate for Kalaburagi, in the lead.

In Dharwad constituency, rivals Vinay Kulkarni (Congress) and Pralhad Joshi (BJP), held roadshows and bike rallies on the last day. While JD(S) leader and former Minister Basavaraj Horatti canvassed for Mr. Kulkarni in Hubballi, another Lingayat leader and former Minister V. Somanna, and former Minister Arvind Limbavali campaigned for Mr. Joshi.

Meanwhile, the former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah spent the last day of campaigning in Bagalkot and Belagavi Lok Sabha constituencies, where he addressed public meetings, and ended his campaign at Kerur in Badami Assembly constituency which he represents.

JD(S) candidate Madhu Bangarappa campaigning at Ripponpet in Shivamogga district on Sunday.

Attacking Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP for “not respecting” social justice, democracy, and constitution, he accused the BJP of ignoring backward classes when it came to fielding candidates, and urged the community people not to vote for the saffron party. “If you (backward classes) have self-respect, do not vote for the BJP since they have not given a single ticket to a person hailing from these communities,” he said.

Meanwhile, Deputy Commissioner and Election Officer for Dharwad M. Deepa has issued notices to three Independent candidates for failing to publicise their criminal cases in the media.