Lok Sabha polls in Karnataka: Parties in last-ditch effort to woo voters

BENGALURU: With only a few hours left for parties to conclude their

public campaigning for the 14 Lok Sabha seats

that will go to the polls on April 18, the BJP and the Congress-JD(S) alliance have been making last-ditch efforts to reach out to voters.


BJP national president Amit Shah will hold public rallies in Honnali in Davanagere and Tumakuru City on Tuesday. The saffron party has also asked all its district units to hold roadshows and public meetings in their respective constituencies. The Congress and JD(S) have also planned roadshows and bike rallies across these constituencies.

Campaigning such as public meet ings, rallies and road shows will have to conclude on Tuesday evening and those who are not from the constituency will have to vacate. However, parties are allowed door-to-door campaigning on April 17.

Prominent leaders of both parties will hold press meets in Bengaluru and other towns to appeal to voters. While former CM SM Krishna and state BJP general secretary Aravind Limbavali will seek votes through media, KPCC president Dinesh Gundurao and other senior eaders are expected to embark on a simiar exercise.

“On Tuesday, the focus will be more on ground work than holding public rallies and meetings,” said a KPCC office bearer. “Few prominent leaders and candidates will continue to seek votes, while the cadre will be busy in booth management.”

HDK vs Sumalatha
In Mandya constituency, Sumalatha, who is taking on chief minster HD Kumaraswamy’s son Nikhil, will conclude her month-long blitzkrieg with a public rally on Tuesday. She along with actors Darshan and Yash will offer special puja at Kalikamba temple before addressing a rally around 11am. “The situation in Mandya is in Sumalatha’s favour and she will win,” said film producer Rockline Venkatesh, who has been overseeing her campaign.

Kumaraswamy will also seek votes across Mandya on Tuesday. The CM, two cabinet ministers and six JD(S) MLAs have been camping in Mandya for the past few days.