Massive show by coalition workers in Shivamogga as Madhu files papers

Shivamogga: Amidst reports of trouble among them elsewhere, Janata Dal(S) and Congress workers came together in a massive show of unity in Shivamogga, a stronghold of state BJP chief, B.S. Yeddyurappa as Mr Madhu Bangarappa of the JD(S) filed his nomination papers for the constituency on Wednesday.

While Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy arrived in Shivamogga by road from Bengaluru to participate in the occasion, irrigation minister, D.K. Shivakumar of the Congress too joined the procession that ended at the deputy commissioner’s office where Mr Madhu Bangarappa filed his papers.

Flags of both parties fluttered in the air as they were carried by their respective party workers, who turned out in large numbers for the procession that covered a distance of about 3 kms in Shivamogga. Also present were former minister, Kagodu Thimmappa of the Congress and Bhadravathi Congress MLA, B.K. Sangameshwara.

Mr Madhu Bangarappa is taking on Mr B.Y. Raghavendra of the BJP, who is Mr. Yeddyurappa’s son, for the second time, having lost to him in the Shivamogga Lok Sabha bypoll around five months ago by about 50,000 votes.

Shivamogga district Congress president, Sundresh believes he has a good chance of winning this time as the BJP’s victory margin had fallen in the bypoll when challenged by the joint might of the JD(S) and Congress.

But BJP Shivamogga district president, Rudregowda dismisses such claims, attributing the huge turnout on Wednesday to the presence of Chief Minister Kumaraswamy. “This large gathering of JDS- Congress supporters in no way indicates a dent in the BJP’s popularity in the constituency,” he asserted, declaring that it would win by around 1.5 lakh votes this time around.