Cong. leaders stand up to Yediyurappa and sons, slam EC for ‘erasing names’

KPCC President BK Hariprasad, Ministers Yathindra Siddaramaiah, Rudrappa Lamani and others attending a public meeting at Shikaripur in Shivamogga district on Wednesday. | Photo credit: SK Dinesh

Congress leaders including KPCC president BK Hariprasad and ministers hit out at the BJP, especially former chief minister BS Yediyurappa and his son BY Vijayendra at a public meeting organized in Shikaripur to mark the launch of the Bharat Jodo 2.0 yatra on Wednesday. They also accused the BJP of fermenting communal hatred and wiping out eligible voters through the Election Commission.

Mr. Hariprasad said people have given a befitting response in the constituency suppressed by state BJP president BY Vijayendra. Recalling that Shivamogga district has given stalwarts in politics and literature. However, the image of the district changed as the BJP gained support in the district. He charged that leaders from Shikaripur had tarnished the dignity of the state by carrying out Operation Lotus.

Referring to Vijayendra’s comments on corruption during the padayatra, Mr. Hariprasad said the people who sent his father to jail after he accepted a bribe were lecturing on corruption. He alleged that BJP leaders in the district were involved in property acquisition and construction of colleges.

Urban Development Minister Yathindra Siddaramaiah alleged that the BJP is removing eligible voters through the SIR conducted by the Election Commission. So far, 13.3 million names have been cleared in the country and this included more than 1 million names from the state. “Among the erased names are minorities, Dalits and women. This is because the Congress is the only hope for the downtrodden people in the state,” he said.

School Education Minister Madhu Bangarappa alleged that BJP leaders from Shikaripur were known for corruption and had no moral right to comment on the state government. He alleged that the BJP was trying to rule by dividing the people. The people of Shikaripur should not allow this, he appealed. He also noted that the bagair-hukum cultivator did not get the land because no committee meeting was held.

Sugar and Textiles Minister Rudrappa Lamani, Muzrai, Fisheries and Ports Minister KS Basavanthappa, Legislators Manjunath Bhandari, BK Sangameshwara, Balkhees Banu, Belur Gopal Krishna, DG Shanthana Gowda, Former Minister Vinay Kumar Strake, AICC District Congress President, Palaniappyan Gopina

Published – 30 Sep 2026 20:56 IST