Karnataka: KS Eshwarappa says Congress' price for a vote is Rs 4,000

Mysuru: Alleging that Congress leaders were paying Rs 4000 for a  vote in Gundulpet, senior BJP leader, K.S. Eshwarappa, who was campaigning in the constituency on Thursday, told the people,  "They are not giving you their hard-earned money. So take it, but vote for our candidate!"

Later speaking to reporters in Mysuru, he accused the state government of failing to protect the properties of minorities. "Although senior Congress leaders have encroached on Wakf property worth Rs 54 crore,  the state government has still not  implemented the recommendations of the Anwar Mannipaadi report on these encroachments. The Congress must apologise to the people for failing to protect the properties of miniorities, and also for betraying the backward classes by not spending even half the money allotted for their welfare, " he demanded, adding, "Mr Siddaramaiah thinks he alone is a champion of the Dalits He should be given  a Nobel price for giving false assurances."

At a rally in Gundulpet,  Mr Eshwarappa observed with sarcasm, while referring to the wife of the late minister, Mahadevprasad, crying in public,  "Today Ms Geetha Mahadevprasad has cried. It won't  be surprising if Mr D.K. Shivakumar (energy minister) too cries tomorrow."

Mocking Ms Geetha, BJP leader, Tejaswini Ramesh  said  personal agony in the face of a tragedy was natural, but it should be kept private. "When we come  to serve society, we should tell people that we are capable and not  cry," she added.
 Meanwhile , senior BJP leader, R Ashok called the Congress a drowning ship while campaigning in Nanjangud. "Mr S M Krishna (former external affairs minister) and others have already joined us and now many ministers in the present Congress government too could join the BJP," he claimed.