Omicron scare has little impact on Council poll campaigns

Conventions being held with least regard for COVID-19 protocol

The scare sparked off by the Omicron variant of coronavirus does not appear to have made any impact on campaigning by different political parties for the Legislative Council elections. While political leaders have been holding forth on the need for caution over the new variant and the State Government has imposed new restrictions, the campaigning style of either the ruling party or the Opposition has not altered over the last week. All have continued organising conventions of elected representatives of local bodies with least regard for the COVID-19 protocol.

Last week, in Davangere district, the former Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa addressed elected representatives of Mayakonda Assembly segment and sought votes for party candidate Arun D.S., son of the former Minister D.H. Shankaramurthy. Wherever he went, hundreds of people attended the meetings. Minister B. Sriramulu too was seen canvassing in the same constituency. In Uttara Kannada district, Minister Shivaram Hebbar was busy campaigning, addressing elected representatives in groups.