Kumaraswamy slams Congress candidate Yogeshwar ahead of Channapatna bypoll

CHANNAPATNA: Union Minister H D Kumaraswamy on Sunday launched a scathing attack on Congress candidate C P Yogeshwar ahead of the high-stakes bye-election for the Channapatna Assembly seat, questioning how the Congress candidate could develop the entire constituency when he has failed to develop his own hometown of Chekkere.

Speaking at a campaign rally for NDA candidate Nikhil Kumaraswamy at Chekkere, Kumaraswamy said, “You have all seen how they have kept the village where they were born. Look at the development we have done. Everything is visible before the eyes of the people”.

He recalled that the same Congress candidate had previously criticized the DK brothers but is now allied with them. “They call me an outsider to Ramanagara. Yes, I was born in Hassan, but I was raised by the people of Ramanagara district. In the end, I will return to this soil”, Kumaraswamy stated emotionally.

Questioning the Congress candidate’s record, he asked what Yogeshwara has accomplished as an MLA over the past 20 years.

“The records are there, check them. You can see what I have achieved in five years right before your eyes. Conduct this election without fear. After this election, who knows where the current Congress candidate will go? They distributed coupons to secure votes in Ramanagara, and they are trying the same tactics in Channapatna. I urge everyone to vote carefully”, he advised.

Kumaraswamy also mentioned that young people in Chekkere village have formed a team to work toward Nikhil’s victory. “This election has already shown dramatic developments,” he said.

“The Congress candidate from your village has defected. We have done more development here than they have. In the last Lok Sabha election, I was compelled to contest in Mandya under pressure from the people, and I won by their blessings. I had to resign from Channapatna due to this obligation,” he explained.

#WATCH | Karnataka | NDA candidate from Channapatna Assembly seat, Nikhil Kumaraswamy holds roadshow in Kodambahalli. pic.twitter.com/zTSScIyFA1

— ANI (@ANI) October 28, 2024

Kumaraswamy further said he asked the village leader to be a candidate and encouraged him to work with JD(S) party workers. “Yet, they acted in deceitful ways. We even suggested they contest on a JD(S) ticket, but after being insistent on joining the BJP, they turned around and joined Congress without consulting us, deceiving BJP leaders along the way. Now they are spreading false information about me in this election”, he expressed.

For Kumaraswamy’s campaign, several state BJP leaders extended their support, including Opposition Leader R Ashoka, former Deputy Chief Minister Dr CN Ashwathnarayan, former Minister CT Ravi, MP Dr Manjunath, and BJP District President Huluvedi Ramesh. (ANI)