Shedding tears during electioneering seems to be fast catching up as a trend, with Water Resources Minister D.K. Shivakumar now joining the bandwagon.
The Congress leader turned emotional on Thursday as he campaigned for Kusumavati Shivalli, party candidate for Kundagol bypoll and wife of the former Minister late C.S. Shivalli. Earlier, the family of former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda had been in the news for weeping while campaigning.
A host of political leaders descended on the villages and towns of Kundagol Assembly constituency on Thursday for campaigning. As Mr. Shivakumar conducted padayatra and held street meetings in different villages, the Bharatiya Janata Party camp led by former Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar, former Deputy Chief Minister K.S. Eshwarappa, former Minister Basavaraj Bommai, and Pralhad Joshi, MP, was busy canvassing for former MLA S.I. Chikkanagoudar.
Canvassing for his late friend’s wife, Mr. Shivakumar broke down at Ingalagi village in Kundagol taluk. Seeking votes for the work done by his deceased friend, he appealed to the people with folded hands to vote for Ms. Kusumavati this time. In a voice choked with emotion, he recalled the works of the former Minister and sought the voters blessings for Ms. Kusumavati.