Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru

Mangaluru, Apr 5: Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah is set to enter the Kerala election arena on Sunday, April 5, to campaign for Congress candidates in the Kannada-dominated Manjeshwar constituency.

The chief minister is scheduled to arrive at the Mangaluru International Airport, from where he will proceed directly to Manjeshwar.

He will lead a campaign rally at Vorkady, followed by another major public meeting at Mulleria. After concluding his campaign activities, he will return to Bengaluru later tonight.

The political atmosphere in the border constituency of Manjeshwar has intensified over the past few days, turning it into a high-stakes battleground for major political parties. Several leaders from Dakshina Kannada have been actively campaigning for their respective party candidates in the region.

Incumbent MLA A K M Ashraf is seeking re-election, while the BJP has fielded its state president K Surendran. Surendran, who has faced narrow defeats in previous attempts, is putting up a fierce fight to secure a victory this time.

Mangaluru South MLA D Vedavyas Kamath has been leading the charge for the BJP in the constituency. On the other hand, Puttur MLA Ashok Kumar Rai is working extensively for the Congress.

Criticising the BJP's campaign style, Ashok Kumar Rai challenged the opposition to seek votes based on developmental achievements rather than religious sentiments. "Kasargod is part of a peaceful state, and attempts to divide people must be thwarted," he stated.

Responding to the criticism, D Vedavyas Kamath expressed confidence in a shift towards the NDA. He claimed that there is significant public dissatisfaction with the current administration and that voters are increasingly leaning towards the BJP.