With the Gundlupet by-poll fast approaching, both the Congress and the BJP are leaving no stone unturned to make sure their respective candidates emerge victorious.

They have taken the by-poll as a prestige issue and have been conducting hectic campaigns in the constituency over the past couple of weeks.

CM Siddharamaiah, who stayed overnight in Mysuru, arrived at Gundlupet this morning to continue with his campaign-spree. He first visited Chikkati in Gundlupet taluk where he was accorded a grand welcome by the villagers. Later, he conducted road shows standing aboard a goods auto.

Addressing the villagers, he took a dig at both Yeddyurappa and Eshwarappa for allegedly misleading the public. He even went on to say that ‘Eshwarappa had no brains’.

The CM expressed confidence that the Congress party would retain it fortress as people of Gundlupet would support the party candidate Geetha Mahadevaprasad (Dr. M.C. Mohanakumari) in the by-poll because of the good works done by late H.S. Mahadevaprasad, who was elected five times from the constituency.

The Chief Minister was accompanied by Congress leaders M.B. Patil, H.M. Revanna, H.S. Nanjundprasad and others.

Siddharamaiah will be visiting 23 villages in Gundlupet constituency during his campaign today.

BJP campaign: Meanwhile, the BJP, which has fielded C.S. Niranjan Kumar as its candidate in Gundlupet, has also taken up hectic campaigning in the constituency. With former Union Minister S.M. Krishna joining the saffron brigade, BJP is expected to bank on the veteran leader’s charisma to secure Vokkaliga community votes in both Nanjangud and Gundlupet.