CM Siddaramaiah Begins Davanagere Campaign, Assures Robust State Economy, Confident of Victory

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah began campaigning in Davanagere on Wednesday for the upcoming bypolls, arriving from Bagalkot where he spent two days campaigning. The by-elections in Bagalkot and Davanagere have been necessitated by the passing of sitting MLAs H.Y. Meti and Shamanur Shivashankarappa, respectively. In Davanagere, Shivashankarappa’s grandson, Samarth Mallikarjun, is contesting as the Congress candidate.

Addressing the media upon his arrival, Siddaramaiah dismissed Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) claims that Karnataka is financially strained. He emphasized that the state’s economy remains robust and highlighted the government’s welfare initiatives and development programs as factors that would contribute to a decisive Congress victory in both constituencies.

“We are confident of winning both Assembly seats with a huge margin. Our government’s work, combined with the contributions of late leaders H.Y. Meti and Shamanur Shivashankarappa, will resonate with voters,” Siddaramaiah said. He also cited Congress’s past bypoll successes, including victories in Shiggaon and Channapatna, as evidence of the party’s strong grassroots support.

Also Read: DMK Expands To 525 Welfare Promises; AIADMK Announces 297 Commitments Ahead Of TN Polls

The Chief Minister further dismissed allegations of voter list manipulation, asserting that such concerns are recent and linked to the BJP. He clarified that the Election Commission of India, under the central government, is solely responsible for maintaining voter rolls and compared the current situation to earlier tenures, stating there were no such issues during the administrations of former Prime Ministers Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi.

Siddaramaiah outlined the ongoing campaign strategy, noting that Congress workers are actively engaging with households and mobilizing voters. He also mentioned coordination with party leaders, including Minister Zameer Ahmad Khan and Congress General Secretary K.C. Venugopal, to ensure smooth campaigning across the constituencies in the coming days.

The Chief Minister took aim at BJP leaders for their criticism, pointing to the political backgrounds of prominent Congress and BJP figures, including former Chief Ministers and their families, to emphasize his party’s experience and strong local connections. He concluded with confidence that voters would respond positively to Congress’s performance and welfare measures in the state.

Also Read: Himachal Pradesh Reduces Budget to ₹54,928 Crore, Targets Debt and Welfare