In a heartfelt appeal to the residents of Kalaburagi, Congress President M Mallikarjun Kharge urged them to consider attending his funeral if they believed he had served their interests, even if they chose not to vote for the Congress candidate in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in Karnataka.
Addressing a gathering at Afzalpur in his home district, the 81-year-old Kharge expressed his sentiment that if the people did not cast their votes for the Congress nominee, it would signify to him that he no longer held a place in Kalaburagi.
The Congress has nominated Kharge’s son-in-law, Radhakrishna Doddamani, as its candidate in Kalaburagi, contesting against the BJP’s incumbent MP, Umesh Jadhav.
Kharge emphasized, "If you choose not to vote for us this time, I will feel that I have lost my connection with Kalaburagi and failed to earn your appreciation." This statement resonated with his long-standing commitment to the constituency, having won Lok Sabha elections here in 2009 and 2014, though facing defeat in 2019.
He added, "Regardless of your political allegiance, I extend an invitation to join me at my final farewell, should you believe I have contributed positively to Kalaburagi."
Kharge further reaffirmed his unwavering dedication to political activism, vowing to continue his fight against the ideologies of the BJP and RSS until his last breath. "Politics is not just a career for me; it is my life’s purpose. Even if I cease to hold a formal position, I will persist in defending the values of our Constitution and the essence of democracy," he declared.
In a poignant moment, Kharge advised Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who shared the platform with him, to remain steadfast in his commitment to these ideals. "I remind Siddaramaiah that retirement from governmental roles does not equate to retirement from the larger battle against the BJP and RSS. Our struggle continues until we prevail against their divisive ideologies," he concluded.
