DAVANAGERE/BAGALKOT: Brushing aside the absence of housing minister BZ Zameer Ahmed Khan from the bypoll campaign, deputy chief minister and state Congress president DK Shivakumar Tuesday asserted the party functions on ideology and collective effort and not individuals.“It does not run on DK Shivakumar, Siddaramaiah, or Zameer Ahmed Khan. We have been working collectively and consistently for elections,” said Shivakumar, who arrived in Davanagere to campaign for the first time since the polls were announced. He was accompanied by AICC general secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala. Shivakumar had been campaigning in Assam over the past two days.Zameer is said to be annoyed over remarks by cabinet colleague SS Mallikarjun, father of Congress’ Davanagere South candidate Samarth. During ticket distribution, Mallikarjun is said to have objected to Zameer’s push for a Muslim candidate, questioned his role, and asked him to limit himself to Bengaluru. He is also said to have suggested that Zameer stay away from campaigning. Zameer is considered a close associate of chief minister Siddaramaiah, who in Bagalkot, said Zameer would join the campaign soon.Shivakumar, meanwhile, highlighted Congress outreach, saying, “Congress party is taking all communities and sections along. Late Shamanur Shivashankarappa, who was national president of the Veerashaiva Lingayat Mahasabha, made immense contributions to this constituency. I conducted a separate survey here, and people remember his help during the pandemic and his work in the education sector.”On opposition criticism, he said, “BJP calls our contributions minorities appeasement and labels us as a Muslim party. Protecting minorities is our responsibility. With this perspective, we have given a legislative council position to K Abdul Jabbar from this region, and also provided Muslim representation in Shiggaon assembly seat. Sixteen corporation board chairperson posts were given to minorities.”‘Cong win will worsen graft’BJP patriarch BS Yediyurappa accused Congress govt of misusing its “brutal majority” and warned that a win in the bypolls would embolden it further. “Corruption is rampant and chief minister Siddaramaiah isn’t concerned about the welfare of people. His govt resembles a ‘Tughlaq Darbar’,” Yediyurappa said while campaigning in Bagalkot. “I appeal with folded hands to voters of both segments to teach Congress a lesson by ensuring BJP candidates win.”On expelled BJP legislator Basanagouda Patil Yatnal offering to campaign, Yediyurappa said, “Let anyone come; there are opportunities. I welcome it.” He also alleged Siddaramaiah and his cabinet colleagues were camping in both constituencies out of fear. “They are worried about defeat,” he said.Dismissing BJP’s claims of fear, Siddaramaiah said such remarks reflected the opposition’s own concerns. He defended giving tickets to family members of deceased legislators saying it was a Congress tradition.
