People throng JDS event at Shira to get free helmets, climb on to goods vehicle

TUMKUR: With just a few months to go for the Karnataka Assembly election, aspirants have begun their campaigns and are attracting voters in various ways.

Ugresh, a JDS candidate, distributed free helmets to people of the constituency on Monday as part of a road safety awareness campaign at IB Circle in Sira town. While initially, things seemed to be going smooth, with local leaders presenting helmets to two-wheeler riders, after a while, people started clambering on to the goods vehicle in which the helmets were brought to the spot, forcing party workers to abandon the distribution of helmets.

More than 5,000 helmets were distributed to locals, and thousands of people flocked the distribution site. Due to this, commuters had to bear the brunt of a traffic jam for about an hour.

People who received free helmets leaving the place with a smile on their faces.

After the death of JDS MLA Satyanarayan, the BJP candidate Dr Rajesh Gowda won the by-election in 2020. The JDS, which had held the seat earlier, is yet to identify a suitable candidate for the upcoming election, and the party workers are confused. Now, JDS leader Ugresh seems to be pitching himself as an aspirant for the seat.

People gathered to get free helmets around IB Circle.

Following the distribution of free helmets, BJP and Congress leaders are criticising the JDS for trying to entice people with gifts. None of the JDS leaders came out to help people during the pandemic and now they are trying to lure voters with gifts, the BJP and Congress leaders remarked.

JDS party workers distributing helmets to two-wheeler riders.