Karnataka assembly elections 2018: This battle will be the high point of polls

Karnataka assembly elections 2018: The battle for Badami is going to be one of the most eagerly-watched contests in the Karnataka Assembly elections given how much is at stake. The BJP has fielded its Bellary MP B Sriramulu (who is also contesting from Molakalmuru in Chitradurga district) against Siddaramaiah — the current Chief Minister of the state. That the BJP is leaving no stone unturned to stop Siddaramaiah juggernaut became more than apparent when both candidates filed nominations on Tuesday (the last day of filing nominations) within minutes of each other. Sriramulu was accompanied by the BJP’s CM candidate BS Yeddyurappa and BJP’s election-in-charge for Karnataka and Union HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar among others, while CM Siddaramiah came by himself with a select band of party workers.

As B Sriramulu — one of the richest politicians in the state — arrived at the tehsildar office  accompanied by the senior leaders, several local BJP MLAs tried to storm in with Sriramulu  which led to high drama. As police stopped them from going in, they squatted on the steps and shouted slogans.“I’m only abiding by the party leadership orders to contest,” Sriramulu told DNA. “People vote for development not caste. PM Modi has shown the people that we’re serious about development, and that will help me in the election,” he said.

Javadekar told DNA, “Siddaramiah is scared as the people want Congress to go and BJP to come. That is why he has run away from Chamundeshwari to Badami. But we are giving chase and will ensure his defeat.” Siddaramaiah, on the other hand, came to the office by road from Hubli with select party workers and was greeted by hundreds of locals camping in the field outside the tehsildar office. “Local MLAs and other leaders from Badami have been requesting me to contest from here for a long time. I’d said no, but this time they reached out to the party high command who told me to contest.”

In a show of strength which saw the police machinery stretched the CM went around in a procession to a local temple in an open truck.

(By Yogesh Pawar, DNA)