Bengaluru, March 16 (NationPress) Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has urged the women members of the Congress party to be pivotal in securing victories for the party in the upcoming by-elections for Bagalkote and Davanagere South. During an executive meeting and training camp held by the Karnataka Pradesh Mahila Congress, he remarked, "Women members are crucial in raising public awareness about the government’s people-centric schemes."

He suggested forming two teams of women members to take an active part in the campaigns for the by-elections in Bagalkote and Davanagere. He recalled the Congress party's past successes in the Channapatna, Shiggaon, and Sandur by-elections and expressed his confidence that the party would secure wins in both constituencies this time, emphasizing that the Congress has made adequate preparations for the elections.

Siddaramaiah highlighted the Congress government's commitment to women’s empowerment during the periods of 2013-2018 and again since 2023. He mentioned that under the Shakti scheme—one of the government’s flagship initiatives—women have completed 700 crore journeys to date. He added that women-centric initiatives have significantly contributed to safeguarding women's rights.

The Chief Minister noted that the government’s guarantee schemes have enhanced women's purchasing power. Through the Gruha Lakshmi scheme, 1.26 crore women receive a monthly assistance of Rs 2,000, improving their economic and social standing. This financial independence has also boosted women’s self-esteem, he stated.

Quoting Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, Siddaramaiah asserted that true freedom can only be achieved when gender discrimination and societal inequalities are eradicated.

He stressed the importance of nurturing leadership skills among women, stating that achieving equality becomes more attainable when equal opportunities are made available to all. Currently, the Karnataka Pradesh Mahila Congress boasts over one lakh women members, and he aims to double that number in the future.

The by-elections for the Davanagere South and Bagalkot Assembly constituencies, necessitated by the passing of former Ministers Shamanur Shivashankarappa and H.Y. Meti, respectively, are scheduled for April 9. Both seats were previously held by the Congress party.

These by-elections are anticipated to be fiercely contested, as they represent a significant matter of prestige for the ruling Congress and the opposition BJP. The selection of a candidate for the Davanagere South constituency has sparked contention among cabinet ministers B.Z. Zameer Ahmad Khan and S.S. Mallikarjun. This seat was once held by Mallikarjun’s father, the late Shamanur Shivashankarappa. Zameer Ahmad Khan has insisted that the ticket should go to a candidate from the minority community, while Minister Mallikarjun has responded that Zameer is not in a position to comment on the Davanagere district.

In contrast, the BJP has committed to winning both seats and has already convened a core committee to discuss candidate selection.