Siddu hits campaign trail for Yogeshwar, mocks Nikhil for crying

NT Correspondent

Ramanagar

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday proved that there was no love lost between him and the Gowda clan as he mocked JD(S) Channapatna candidate Nikhil Kumaraswamy for shedding tears during his campaign last week. The CM made the comments while canvassing for Congress candidate for the seat CP Yogeshwar, a five-time MLA. The Grand Old Party often criticizes the Gowda family, the force behind the JD(S), for engaging in “politics of tears”. Nonagenarian and party patriarch HD Devegowda has been known to cite his old age to appeal to supporters, particularly his fellow Vokkaligas, to cast their votes for the JD(S). Last week, Nikhil broke down during a roadshow, claiming that he lost the Mandya Lok Sabha seat in 2019 and the Ramanagar Assembly seat last year due to “political conspiracies”.

The CM trained his guns on Nikhil on the day Devegowda made a rare appearance to campaign for the party candidate and his grandson. “They have brought Nikhil, who lost in Mandya and in Ramanagar, here (in Channapatna). Nikhil has been told to cry because it is our tradition to cry. They’re all shedding tears because the fear of defeat looms large over them. Yogeshwar is sure to win. Devegowda is camping in Ramanagar for three to four days. He has resolved to ensure his grandson’s victory,” Siddaramaiah said, adding that he had released Rs 220 crore for the hotly contested constituency.

“Yogeshwar knows the happiness and grief of the people. Devegowda’s family doesn’t know this. They only know how to speak emotionally and to cry. Yogeshwar must win for the development of Channapatna,” he said. Siddaramaiah also targeted JD(S) for former MP and Devegowda’s other grandson Prajwal Revanna’s alleged sexual assault of scores of women.