Chief Minister Siddaramaiah speaks to media persons at Mysuru Airport, in Mysuru, on Monday. Ministers H C Mahadevappa and K Venkatesh, KPCC women’s wing president Pushpa Amarnath and MUDA Chairman K Marigowda are seen.
Credit: DH Photo
Mysuru: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah once again suggested that his political future hinges on the outcome of the upcoming Lok Sabha election in his home turf.
During a party meeting held as part of his campaign in Biligere village, within his Varuna Assembly segment, Siddaramaiah posed a question to party workers, asking whether he should continue representing them.
It's worth noting that Siddaramaiah, just last week, spent four days in Mysuru, devising strategies and taking steps to bolster the chances of Congress candidates in the Mysuru-Kodagu and Chamarajanagar segments. Starting Monday, he will embark on a three-day tour across both segments.
Reflecting on his electoral success in Varuna, where he secured a substantial victory margin of over 48,000 votes in the previous Assembly poll, Siddaramaiah expressed confidence in winning the Mysuru and Chamarajanagar segments.
"The voters of Varuna gave me a substantial margin of over 48,000 votes in last year's Assembly polls. Varuna has been fortunate for me. When I won from here, I was sworn in as chief minister twice. The voters are also familiar with District in-charge Minister H C Mahadevappa. My son, Dr Yathindra, was your previous MLA. So, I urge you to give Sunil Bose, the Congress Chamarajanagar Lok Sabha candidate, a margin of over 60,000 votes in the Varuna segment. Only then, nobody can challenge my stronghold," he said.
Asserting the Congress's prospects in both Mysuru and Chamarajanagar, Siddaramaiah highlighted the importance of securing victories in these constituencies to strengthen his position further. He urged voters to "reject the false promises of the BJP," and to support Bose with a greater margin than they did for him.
Siddaramaiah highlighted the impact of the Congress government's five guarantees, stating that they have empowered women to achieve financial independence. "Job opportunities have increased, along with strengthened purchasing power. Even those who oppose these guarantees and align with the BJP are reaping the benefits. Merely boasting a '56-inch chest' is insufficient. What's essential is to have a compassionate heart like a mother's. Without it, creating jobs and increasing farmers' incomes will remain elusive," he said.
Siddaramaiah reminisced about taking his first oath as CM on Basava Jayanthi. "During my second term, I declared Basavanna as a 'cultural leader' on the day of my inauguration. Basavanna established the Lingayat religion for the betterment of society. Sharanas, like Basavanna, transcend religious and caste boundaries. Therefore, we are prioritising the principles of 'kayaka' (service) and 'dashoha' (mass feeding) advocated by them," he stated.