Hebbal by-poll: BJP woos Muslims, Congress reaches out to Hindus, Christians

BENGALURU: With the date for polling in Hebbal a week away, candidates contesting the by-poll from this constituency are leaving no stone unturned to woo voters.

While BJP candidate, Y. A. Narayanaswamy went a step further and even wore a skull cap to woo Muslim voters in front of Jamia Mosque in Rehmat Nagar along with BJP leader and former police officer Abdul Azeem, while Congress candidate, C.K. Abdul Rahaman Sharief, set out on his campaign after offering pooja at various temples en route his door-to-door campaign in Cholanayakanahalli to garner the support of Hindu voters. The JD(S) candidate too launched his campaign in minority dominated areas by visiting mosques.

Speaking to DC, a Congress leader said BJP candidate Mr Swamy is giving tough time for Mr Sharief, as he launched his campaign in Muslim-dominated areas such as Rehmat Nagar. “There are at least 3,000 voters in three booths that come in this locality. Therefore, Mr Swamy chose Friday to reach out to large number Muslims at one go but Mr Sharief has taken the opposite route to approach voters this time. Instead of campaigning in surrounding mosque areas, he has chosen to reach out to voters who are non-Muslims,” the leader said.

According to the leader, many senior leaders like Oscar Fernandes have come to his rescue to garner votes in his favour. “Many Christian leaders from coastal region have begun campaigning in Mr Sharief's favour, while he is being used as poster boy to showcase the Congress party's might,” the leader added.

Speaking to DC, Mr Sharief during his campaign trail said he was consciously making all out efforts not be seen as candidate dependent on a particular voter segment. “I am trying to send a strong signal to my voters that he sees no difference between any caste or religion.”