‘Mukhyamantris’ begin charming the minorities in Chamarajpet

BANGALORE: He met the Muslim brethren over lunch. His rival kicked off his door-to-door campaign in the Mohammedan Block, signing autographs. The former was real Mukhyamantri S.M. Krishna and the latter reel Mukhyamantri Anant Nag (JD-S).
On Thursday, both kicked off their Chamarajpet campaign — trying to charm the electorate. Krishna met some prominent members of the Muslim community at the house of Central Muslim Association’s president Maqbool Ahmed over lunch.What’s cooking, Mr CM?
He was accompanied by his chief lieutenant and Chamarajpet MLA R.V. Devaraj, MP K. Rehman Khan, ministers R. Roshan Baig and Ramalinga Reddy and Congress party candidate from Bangalore South M. Krishnappa. They went to Maqbool Ahmed’s house at around 1.45 p.m. What about Rahu Kalam? It was between 1.30 and 3 pm.
Krishna had a closed door meeting with chief imam of Jamia Masjid in City Market Alhaj Moulana Riaz-Ur-Rehman and opinion makers from the minority community. “The chief minister relished khichda (a delicacy which is prepared using all pulses and meat chunks in rice) and sought the blessings of the community,’’ a participant said.
And blessings he did get. The leaders assured Krishna of the community’s support. Krishnappa, who is contesting from Bangalore South, also sought blessings of the chief imam.
Anant Nag started off his campaign on a low key. Accompanied by former corporator from Chamarajpet B.V. Ganesh, he charmed youths, women and children. The key point of Nag’s campaigning was maladministration during the last five years. Nag’s supporters said loud and clear how sitting MLA Devaraj remained non-available to the electorate. They also harped on Krishna deserting Maddur.
The other reel CM, BJP candidate and film star Mukhyamantri Chandru, is yet to kick off his campaign. Reason: Supporters of Pramila Nesargi (who was given the BJP ticket to contest from Chamarajpet prior to Krishna deciding to stand from the constituency) staged a protest in Chamarajpet demanding that Nesargi be the official candidate, and not Mukhyamantri Chandru.
Later, Nesargi told reporters: “Right now, both of us (Nesargi and Chandru) have been given ‘B Form’ to contest the election and there is still some time to withdraw nominations. The party high command will clear the situation before the withdrawal of nominations.’’