Karnataka: Kumaraswamy and Yediyurappa urge voters to support NDA candidate

Bengaluru- Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel H.D. Kumaraswamy and former Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa campaigned together on Wednesday for NDA candidate Nikhil Kumaraswamy in the Channapatna Assembly constituency byelection.

The high-profile byelection, scheduled for November 13, sees Nikhil Kumaraswamy, son of Union Minister Kumaraswamy and grandson of former Prime Minister H.D. Nikhil Kumaraswamy, contesting against C.P. Yogeshwara of the Congress.

During a joint campaign in Ambadahalli and Sogal villages, both senior leaders urged voters to support Nikhil Kumaraswamy, highlighting the NDA's focus on development and criticizing the Congress-led state government for alleged corruption and neglect of public welfare.

Yediyurappa emphasized the previous government's achievements, stating, "H.D. Kumaraswamy and I worked tirelessly for development. We implemented schemes like the Bhagyalakshmi Yojana and the free bicycle scheme for school girls. We also provided additional financial assistance to farmers beyond the Central government's aid."

Kumaraswamy accused the Congress candidate of engaging in "divisive tactics" and criticized Yogeshwara for switching parties at the last minute. Kumaraswamy claimed that Yogeshwara had a ‘match-fixing’ agreement with the Congress leaders, especially the DK brothers, and ultimately jumped to the Congress at the last moment.

The JD(S) ultimately nominated Nikhil Kumaraswamy as the NDA candidate, presenting him as a capable representative for the constituency.