BJP claims Congress using money to win votes in Karnataka, chief minister hits back

Bengaluru/Bagalkot: Allegations of cash distribution in rural areas dominated the political narrative ahead of the April 9 bypolls, with the opposition BJP Friday accusing the Congress govt of circulating money to influence voters, a charge the governing party denied.At BJP's Jagannath Bhavan office in Bengaluru, opposition leader in the legislative council, Chalavadi Narayanaswamy, said ground-level reports indicated cash ranging from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 10 lakh was being distributed in villages ahead of chief minister Siddaramaiah's visit. He also claimed that sections of Muslims were shifting towards BJP after Congress denied a ticket to the community's candidate. Siddaramaiah denied the claims and said if there is any misuse of money or power, it is by BJP.In Bagalkot, union minister of state for railways and Jal Shakti V Somanna, campaigning for BJP candidate Veeranna Charantimath, claimed the Congress candidate would lose, and Siddaramaiah would remain in office for only one and a half months more.Hitting back, Siddaramaiah, who campaigned in Davanagere South for Samarth Shamanur, said: "Somanna is not the Congress high command to talk about the position of chief minister. BJP is unmatched in lying."Reacting to BJP state president BY Vijayendra's remark that the bypoll results would impact his position, Siddaramaiah said, "Our party will win in both places, so how can it affect us? BJP is not our high command. But Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge and Priyanka Gandhi are... They are speaking whatever comes to mind out of fear of losing in Bagalkot. They have brought back Basanagouda Patil Yatnal, who was expelled from the party, for campaigning. This shows BJP is in a pathetic state in Karnataka."On allegations of higher allocations to minorities, he said, "Aren't they people of this state? Their population is 14%, and grants have been provided as given to other communities."Opposition leader in the legislative assembly, R Ashoka, campaigning in Davanagere, accused Siddaramaiah of misappropriating rice supplied by the Centre under the Anna Bhagya scheme and presenting it as a state initiative."The Indira food kit promised during the last elections, including 5kg dal, oil and other essentials, has still not reached people," he said."The state govt cannot mislead people by putting its own label on rice supplied by the Centre and calling it its own scheme... The situation is such that he deserves the title ‘Sullu (falsehood) Ramaiah'," he added. —————Photo: CM Siddaramaiah at a temple in Muchakhandi village, Bagalkot assembly constituency, Friday