I have donated 25 acres of land for schools in Kanakapura, what has Deve Gowda family donated?: Karnataka DyCM DK Shivakumar

Speaking at a campaign rally in Channapatna, Shivakumar said, "In order to improve the quality of education in my constituency, I have donated 25 acres of land in three different places in Kanakapura. Has the Deve Gowda family donated even one gunta of land in Hassan, Ramanagara or Channapatna?" He was replying to Deve Gowda's allegation that DK Shivakumar asked for money to give land to a school.

"During a campaign rally, Deve Gowda alleged that DK brothers have taken over lands and are asking for money for the land. Ask your relatives if you have any in Kanakapura, they will tell you how much land we have donated to schools," he challenged.

Questioning Union Minister Kumaraswamy's contribution to Channapatna Shivakumar said, "Yogeshwar is developing Bisilamma temple at a cost of Rs 4-5 crore. He has developed Mahadeshwara temple. Has Kumaraswamy developed even a single temple in Ramanagara or Channapatna? Has he given even a single drinking water unit? Kumaraswamy may give Rs 2000-3000 per vote during elections, but the Congress party has given life to crores of people through its guarantee schemes,"

Campaigning for Congress candidate CP Yogeshwara, Shivakumar questioned HD Kumaraswamy's son Nikhil Kumaraswamy connect to the Channapatna seat.

"The people of Kanakapura have elected for 8 consecutive times. In the last election, I did not even campaign in the constituency after submitting my nomination. But the people of Kanakapura elected me with a huge margin of 1.23 lakh votes. They do so because I listen to their problems and I attend to their problems. While Kumaraswamy abandoned Channapatna to become an MP. Nikhil has no connect with the constituency," he said.

Replying to Kumaraswamy's allegations on Shivakumar about not giving lands for industries, he said, "Kumaraswamy copied our job fair concept and did one in Mandya. Why did he not do the same in Ramanagara and Channapatna. He has alleged that DK Shivakumar is not giving lands for setting up industries. It is six months since he became Industries minister in the Centre but he has not even said once that he will set up industries here. We are ready to give 200-300 acres of land if he is willing to set up industries here,"

Speaking about Congress candidate Yogeshwar, who recently jumped ship from BJP, Sivakumar hailed him as "smart" and said that the development of the constituency is only possible with their government

"Yogeshwar was smart enough to leave BJP and join Congress because he realised that development of the constituency was possible only with Congress government. I set up power stations at 10 places and gave transformers when I was the Energy minister. Whey did these things not happen during Kumaraswamy's time," he asked.

This development comes ahead of the upcoming bypolls in Channapatna, scheduled for November 13, where NDA candidate, Nikhil Kumaraswamy is in electoral fray against Congress candidate CP Yogeshwara, who had recently jumped ship to the Congress from BJP.

The bypolls on 48 constituencies are spread over 15 states - Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Meghalaya, Punjab, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and West Bengal.

Earlier on October 15, the Election Commission of India (ECI) announced bypolls for 48 Assembly constituencies and two Parliamentary seats that will occur in two phases alongside the Maharashtra and Jharkhand Assembly elections.

Voting for the first phase, covering 47 Assembly constituencies and the Wayanad parliamentary seat in Kerala will take place on November 13. The second phase will occur on November 20 for the Kedarnath Assembly constituency in Uttarakhand and the Nanded parliamentary seat in Maharashtra. The counting of votes will take place on November 23. (ANI)