By Shivakumar G Malagi
Bellary/March/2009
In the epic,“Mahabaratha,” charioteer Sri Krishna blew the Panchajanya, a conch to stir Lord Arjuna into performing his duties in the battle of Kurukshetra. Health minister B. Sriramulu did a repeat on Monday in Bellary by blowing a conch to stir his sister, Shanthi—the BJP candidate—into fighting and winning the battle for the Bellary Lok Sabha seat, reserved for Scheduled Tribes.
Ms Shanthi began her election campaign on Monday from Yerrithatha temple in Chellagurki, near her native village, Joladarashi on the Karnataka—Andhra Pradesh border. She, accompanied by Mr Sriramulu and her mentor, tourism minister G. Janardhan Reddy performed pooja at a temple before addressing a huge public meeting.
Blowing the Panchajanaya modelled conch amid applause by a nearly 10,000 strong crowd, Mr Sriramulu signalled the start of the poll battle against the rival Congress and JD(S) which are yet to announce their candidates. Mr Janardhan Reddy, probably inspired by BJP’s prime ministerial candidate L.K. Advani, has launched a “Ratha Yatra” hinting at a a high-pitch campaign in the constituency. Accompanied by Ms Shanthi and Mr Sriramulu, Mr Reddy climbed on a specially manufactured chariot to blow the Panchajanya.
Ms Shanthi who has done her PUC, read out a written speech in Kannada and said, “I will work for the upliftment of the downtrodden and women following in the footsteps of my brothers, Sriramulu and Janardhan Reddy. I seek votes to strengthen their hands and work for the full fledged development of this constituency.” Lashing out at former Prime Minister H.D.Deve Gowda and the Congress-led UPA government at the Centre, Mr Janardhan Reddy said, “Bellary has become a citadel of the BJP today from the panchayat level to Parliament. Hence, we need your blessings to continue the BJP’s winning spree. I am confident Shanthi will create history in electoral politics by winning with a record margin.”
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