Bengaluru: As Karnataka gets ready to vote on April 18 and 23, parties are leaving no stone unturned to gain votes in their favour. While the parties resort to doing a number of permutations and combinations, it is the loyal members, who feel humiliated and indignant.

First on the list are the supporters and members of the Congress from the Mandya district. It is no secret that these members wanted the Congress to issue to a ticket to Sumalatha Ambareesh. But the party stuck to its stand and has extended support to Nikhil Kumaraswamy, thereby inducing a lot of anger and disappointment in the local unit. On Saturday, Siddaramaiah who was addressing workers from the region, did not mince words when he openly said that Congress supporters have to respect the mandate of the party, and in case, they feel betrayed and let down, they are free to cut asunder all their ties with the party.

On the other hand, BJP candidate from Mysuru-Kodagu Pratap Simha has chosen to fish in troubled waters. Trying to encash on the rift in the JD(S) and the Congress camp, he said that Kumaraswamy had backstabbed Congress in Mandya, with a view to bring Nikhil into power.

Meanwhile, HM Vishwanath, a Congress member, who was earlier with the JD(S) and considered to be a close associate of Deve Gowda, has hit out at the former PM saying he has resorted to dynasty politics in order to promote his sons and grandsons. He further added that he used to keep stones in his pockets which he used as tools to attack anyone who spoke ill of Deve Gowda. He also said he had worked diligently towards the prosperity of the JD(S).

There are growing doubts that he might join the BJP.