By IANS,
Bangalore : Campaigning was in full swing Tuesday for the second phase of Karnataka assembly elections with Congress president Sonia Gandhi and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Sushma Swaraj lending star power as they addressed voters’ rallies at various places in the state.
Gandhi, addressing public meetings in Koppal in north Karnataka and Mangalore on the west coast, took a dig at the BJP saying the Cobngress did not need to take any lesson from the BJP in fighting terrorism. The terror attacks that took place when the BJP-led government was in power at the centre spoke for the BJP, she said.
Gandhi also promised expanded employment opportunities and asked people to vote for her party to get a stable government.
Wednesday is the last day for public campaign for the second phase of polling due May 16 for 66 seats in 10 districts.
While Sonia Gandhi led the Congress campaign, the BJP fielded Sushma Swaraj and the Samajwadi Party brought Amar Singh and film actor Jayaprada to boost the prospects of their party candidates.
For Sushma Swaraj, Amar Singh and Jayaprada, the battle ground was Shikaripura in Shimoga district where the BJP’s chief ministerial candidate B.S. Yediyurappa is facing a tough battle against SP leader and former Karnataka chief minister S. Bangarappa.
Sushma Swaraj also addressed rallies in coastal Karnataka where the BJP has established a strong base and the Congress is making a determined bid to re-establish its hold on the area.
Seeking votes for Yediyurappa, Sushma Swaraj attacked the Congress for being soft on terrorism and failing to control rising prices.
She expressed confidence that her party will get clear majority as people were fed up with coalition politics in the state, which saw the fall of three governments in less than four years.
Several Kannada film stars, who have been campaigning for Yediyurappa in Shikaripura, were present at the meeting.
Amar Singh termed Yediyurappa as Narendra Modi of the south and said his Samajwadi Party candidate Bangarappa will win hands down in Shikaripura.