In a typical political development, Aland MLA B R Patil announced his support to Mallikarjuna Kharge and Dharam Singh contesting from Gulbarga and Bidar Lok Sabha seats respectively at a Congress campaign meet here on Sunday.
B R Patil was one of the two MLAs (the other is Guru Patil), who opposed the merger of KJP with BJP. He took part in a Congress election meet in Aland town and shared dais with chief minister Siddaramaiah.
Interestingly, though B R Patil was garlanded with a shawl carrying the symbol of Congress and he was wearing it throughout the campaign, he has not uttered a single word he has joined the Congress.
Patil in his speech described Siddaramaiah as a secular person and recalled his association with him. Patil said Siddaramaiah is a good friend of him and he (Patil) is supporting Bidar candidate Dharam Singh and Gulbarga candidate Malikarjun Kharge on the request of Siddaramaiah. Patil said both Kharge and Dharam Singh have done developmental works for this region and for this reason, he is supporting them.
Sidaramaiah speaking at the meet described B R Patil as a man of socialist background who came from Jayaprakash movement. “There were three options before Patil. First option was to go with Yeddyurappa and support BJP which was not possible as he is a secular man. Second option was to support Janata Dal (S). But Janata Dal (S) is not a political party at all. It is a party of father and sons and has its identity in only 4-5 districts. Considering all these facts, I requested Patil to support Congress and he has accepted my request,” Siddaramaiah said.
Siddaramaiah sadi Patil asked him to sanction construction of sufficient tanks in Aland taluk, to provide water to Amarja river from Bhima through lift irrigation scheme and to stop rampant sale of illicit liquor in Aland taluk. The CM said he accepted all the demands as they were for the welfare of the people of Aland constituency. The CM described Dharam Singh as an experienced politician who worked in many capacities and is an Ajata Shatru (who is having no enemies).
Dharm Singh would act as an asset of this region in the Parliament, he said. Former union minister C M Ibrahim and Dharam Singh also spoke.