Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has urged voters in Davangere South to support the Congress candidate in the upcoming by-election, framing the contest as a choice between his government's welfare measures and the Bharatiya Janata Party's misinformation. He cautioned against backing independents, warning that such votes could indirectly benefit the BJP.
Siddaramaiah campaigned across villages, calling for a consolidation of votes in favour of the Congress candidate, Samarth Shamanur. He accused BJP leaders of raising allegations outside the House after remaining silent during discussions.
The Chief Minister also invoked the legacy of senior Congress leader Shamanur Shivashankarappa, linking it to the party's campaign in the constituency. He rejected labels used by critics, saying he was a "food-loving Ramaiah" who ensured rice for the poor, not "Salada Ramaiah."
Responding to criticism over alleged dynastic politics, Siddaramaiah broadened his attack to include leaders across parties, questioning the morality of the BJP's criticism of Congress family politics.
Meanwhile, the BJP sharpened its criticism of the state government's record, accusing it of failing to deliver on welfare commitments, particularly to backward communities. Karkala MLA V Sunil Kumar pointed to a gap between announced and released funds, detailing discrepancies in allocations to various corporations.
