The former Chief Minister and Janata Dal (Secular) State unit president H.D. Kumaraswamy on Monday inaugurated the election campaign for Melkote Assembly constituency at Mallanayakana Katte village in Dudda hobli of the district.
Addressing a huge gathering, Mr. Kumaraswamy criticised the UPA government at the Centre and the Bharatiya Janata Party government in the State for sacrificing the interests of Karnataka on the Cauvery issue.
He said that party supremo and former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda was preparing to launch a fast-unto-death to get justice for the people in the Cauvery basin. People should elect JD (S) candidates to support Mr. Gowda as he has been fighting to protect the interests of the State on water dispute issues for more than four decades, Mr. Kumaraswamy said.
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The JD(S) was the only party in the State that could safeguard the interests of farmers, the former Chief Minister said.
He said that a large number of people from all sections were with the party.
They were supporting C.S. Puttaraju, Melkote MLA, who is the JD(S) candidate, as he implemented development projects across the constituency.
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Mr. Kumaraswamy said that his party would increase the widow pension from Rs. 400 to Rs. 1,500.
“Besides introducing social security schemes, we will release Rs. 5,000 to every farmer every Ugadi to buy seeds and fertilizer. Around 80 lakh khata holders in the State will get the benefits,” he said.
At least 25,000 people from across the constituency attended the function.