Criticism over dynasty politics, caste flows as campaigning goes up a notch

Davanagere/Bagalkot: Senior Congress and BJP functionaries sparred Monday over dynastic politics, governance, and community mobilisation as campaigning in the Davanagere South and Bagalkot assembly bypolls went up a notch with only two days left. Union minister Pralhad Joshi accused Congress of monopolising Davanagere South through one family. "First the grandfather was MLA and minister, then the son became MLA and minister, while his wife became MP, and now the grandson has been given a ticket to become MLA," he said. "This concentration of power threatens democracy." He compared the family's dominance to the Gandhi family at the national level and alleged that "ill-gotten wealth was being used to influence elections". Joshi added that Congress's governance had failed, citing mismanagement in schemes such as Anna Bhagya. He contrasted this with the Union govt's handling of fuel and LPG supplies, asserting that despite global disruptions, domestic reserves were adequate. Chief minister Siddaramaiah fired a salvo of his own, pointing out that those who criticised BJP and RSS in the past — a pointed reference to Chalavadi Narayanaswamy — were now aligned with the party. "Those who joined BJP did so to preserve political relevance. On what moral basis can they criticise Congress?" he asked. He also responded to HD Kumaraswamy's remarks that the Gowda family "did not practise dynastic politics" but were pushed into the electoral fray only because people wanted it, by pointing to his son's loss in Channapatna. "It's contradictory to claim popular support after being rejected by voters. Contesting elections is fine if people want it, but results speak for themselves," Siddaramaiah said. In Bagalkot, former CM and BJP MP Basavaraj Bommai accused the state govt of neglecting SC, ST, and OBC communities. "Without political power, justice cannot be achieved," he said, citing incidents during Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti. Bommai warned voters not to sell their votes for temporary benefits and stressed the need for long-term development. BJP state president and MLA BY Vijayendra said the bypolls were a tough test for the state govt and Siddaramaiah. Speaking in Davanagere, he said Siddaramaiah "had failed to deliver development despite 17 budgets" and criticised the govt's portrayal of the guarantee schemes as actual progress. "Even minorities now see the party shedding crocodile tears," he said.