H D Kumaraswamy holds meeting with Muslim leaders from Channapatna

Bengaluru: Wary of losing Muslim votes, Union Minister H D Kumaraswamy held a meeting with community’s leaders from Channapatna late on Sunday night.

JD(S) youth leader Nikhil Kumaraswamy has been fielded from Channapatna as NDA candidate. The party leaders fear losing Muslim votes since JD(S) has joined hands with BJP. There are around 30,000 Muslim votes in Channapatna Assembly segment, which play a crucial role in a candidate’s victory. 

According to the sources from the party, leaders from all the communities were present in the meeting and Kumaraswamy requested them to support his son Nikhil Kumaraswamy this time. Channapatna bypoll is scheduled for November 13.

In the meeting Kumaraswamy reportedly mentioned about the schemes launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the welfare of minorities.

“He also promised to stand by the community and tried to make them realise the programmes implemented by his father HD Deve Gowda for the welfare of Muslims during his tenure as chief minister and prime minister, the source explained.

Kumaraswamy has said that Muslim community was not in his favour in the run-up to 2023 Assembly elections. “The Union minister mentioned about the community not holding his hand during last elections and requested them to be favour his son this time,” source added.

Kumaraswamy tried to convince the community leaders saying BJP was not against any community and requested them not to believe the Congress blindly.