Gulbarga: Neither age nor the scorching heat seems to diminish his spirit.
Union railway minister, Mallikarjun Kharge, who has won nine Assembly elections-eight from Gurmitkal and one from Chittapur in a row - is hoping to keep his record intact by winning another term in Parliament from Gulbarga.
Despite returning at 1 am Tuesday after campaigning in Raichur, he is up at eight to glance through the day’s papers. Breakfasting at 9 am on jowar roti and some vegetables, he gives a quick interview to a Kannada newspaper.
The moment he enters the visitors’ room he is surrounded by a group of Congress leaders and workers, who have various reasons to see him. Spending some time with them, he turns to senior leaders like Allam Prabhu Patil, and DCC Chief Bhagan Gouda Patil, to indicate he is ready for another day of grueling campaigning.
Setting off, his convoy proceeds to a nearby locality to visit the Jagadguru of Balehonnur Peetha Veerasomeshwara Shivacharya staying in a devotee’s house. On getting his blessings it heads for Sedam town.
The first halt is a Lambani thanda. After making a brief speech at a community centre, Mr. Kharge travels to Malkhed town where the Vasavadatta Cement factory is situated. He spends longer here, highlighting his achievements like the seven barrages built on the Kagina river and the Rs 78 crore sanctioned for the Sedam-Yadgir highway.
Retreating to a party leader’s house for a break, he later heads for Kodla village to address a public meeting. With his constituency being large and only a short time left for campaigning, Mr. Kharge is giving door to door visits a miss.
“As I have quite a big ground to cover it’s very difficult to undertake padayatras,” he explains.
Lunching at the ‘White House’ (guest house of the Birla’s at the Sedam Cement factory), Mr. Kharge rests for a while, waiting for the scorching heat to subside before heading for his public meeting.
“Unlike other politicians I don’t seek your votes by making promises, but for the work I have already done,” he tells the people, calling his critics blind as his achievements, he contends, are there for all to see.
Another meeting at Kolkunda and Mr. Kharge is done for the day. But its late night before he returns home and he retires quickly to prepare for another long haul the next day.
