GOKAK: Amid reports that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah might shift his constituency for the May 12 Karnataka Assembly polls, BJP president Amit Shah on Friday said this was the “first major lead” that the saffron party would win the election.
“Those who were boasting themselves are now being forced to change their constituency,” he said, without naming Siddaramaiah. “This is the first major lead in the first stage of the poll campaign. We are going to win the election and form the government under the leadership of (state BJP president) B S Yeddyurappa,” Shah added.
He was referring to reports that the chief minister might contest from Badami in Bagalkot district in north Karnataka, as against his plans to return to the Assembly from Chamundeshwari in Mysuru.
Speculation has been rife that Siddaramaiah is looking for another constituency amid reports that it will not be an easy poll battle for him from Chamundeshwari.
Thousands of BJP workers participated in a roadshow by Shah in Gokak on Friday where the saffron party is attempting to dislodge Small Scale Industries Minister Ramesh Jarkiholi - the first of the five Jarkiholi brothers - who is likely to seek reelection for the fifth time.
Jarkiholi had attracted the wrath of BJP top brass for claiming that even Prime Minister Modi could not win Gokak.
Later, Union Minister Anantkumar Hegde was appointed in-charge of the assembly constituency. According to local BJP leaders, all efforts are being made to defeat the incumbent. Though Jarkiholi has been elected four times from the constituency, Gokak hasn’t developed much, said Fayaz Khan, a resident.
No speech at Kittur
Dharwad: BJP workers who gathered at Kittur and waited for more than two hours for Amit Shah’s speech were left disappointed on Friday. Shah was supposed to arrive at 10 am, garland the Rani Chennamma statue and brief the gathering before heading to the next programme. However, Shah and other BJP leaders just waved to the crowds and rushed to their next programme.