DK Shivakumar
Bengaluru: Congress and the BJP-JD(S) alliance have intensified campaigns for the four legislative council seats — two teachers’ and graduates’ constituencies each — ahead of polling on Oct 23, with senior functionaries from both sides wooing voters. His govt had also introduced ‘Tr’ prefix for teachers and ‘Er’ for engineers, which he said would help the party’s candidates win the elections.
He said Congress govt had fulfilled its promises by implementing various welfare schemes, including the five guarantees. Chief minister DK Shivakumar campaigned in Hubballi Saturday, seeking support for Congress candidate Mohan Limbikai in West Graduates’ constituency. KPCC president BK Hariprasad and ministers Satish Jarkiholi, Laxman Savadi, Santosh Lad and Rudrappa Lamani also campaigned for Limbikai. In North-East Teachers’ constituency, former chief minister BS Yediyurappa , former minister S Suresh Kumar, CT Ravi and other BJP functionaries campaigned for party candidate Shashil G Namoshi in Kalaburagi region. JD(S) MLA Sharanagouda Kandakoor also campaigned for the alliance candidate. In Bengaluru Teachers’ constituency, opposition leader R Ashoka, BJP state president BY Vijayendra, MLC Chalavadi Narayanaswamy and other BJP leaders held meetings with eligible voters, seeking support for NDA candidate AP Ranganath, fielded by JD(S). Minister HC Balakrishna, KH Muniyappa and other ministers from Bengaluru also campaigned for Congress nominee Puttanna in Bengaluru Teachers’ constituency. In South-East Graduates’ constituency, BJP campaigned for its candidate KM Suresh, with Vijayendra and others seeking votes. On the Congress side, DCM G Parameshwara, ministers Byrathi Suresh and T Raghumurthy campaigned for party candidate Shashi Hulikuntemutt.