Minister Laxmi Hebbalkar goes around in auto to campaign for son in Lok Sabha polls

BELAGAVI: Women and Child Development Minister Laxmi R Hebbalkar is actively campaigning for her son Mrinal Hebbalkar, who is contesting the Lok Sabha election from Belgaum.

Several videos of her going around in autorickshaws to campaign for her son and visiting temples are doing the rounds. Greenhorn Mrinal Hebbalkar is pitted against BJP’s veteran Jagadish Shettar.

While Shettar is being seen as an ‘outsider’, Mrinal Hebbalkar has the advantage of being the ‘local lad’. Senior BJP leader B S Yediyurappa is scheduled to visit Belagavi and hold meetings with the party local leaders to stem any discontentment.

Speaking to Public TV, Laxmi Hebbalkar said she has immese respect for “Yediyurappa appaji”. “Even at his ripe old age, the BJP has assigned him tasks related to the elections. Wasn’t it the same BJP which forced him to step down from the Chief Minister’s post and made him weep?” she questioned.