Hitting out at critics opposing his actor son Nikhil Kumaraswamy contesting from Mandya in the Lok Sabha polls, Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy Tuesday said a "systematic" campaign was being run against his candidacy.
Facing flak for promoting his son, Kumaraswamy said those posting on social media are not voters. The real voters are in villages and it is they who will decide, he added.
Claiming that there was a "systematic" campaign against Nikhil's candidature, he said several top political leaders, including Yeddyurappa and himself, were born somewhere, while their political activities are elsewhere.
"Pro and contra views will be everywhere. Several leaders who were born somewhere, have won from elsewhere and have become members (of Parliament and assembly)," Kumaraswamy said to a query about the opposition to Nikhil's candidacy.
Speaking to reporters here, Kumaraswamy said Union Minister Sadanada Gowda, who was born in Mangaluru, has become an MP from Bangalore North, Yeddyurappa, born in Mandya, was doing politics from Shivamogga, and he, born in Hassan, was doing politics in Ramanagara.
"Anyone can contest from anywhere. I can understand what all is happening systematically as though there was opposition in Mandya (to Nikhil's candidacy)," he said.
His family will never misuse the love and affection of the people of Mandya with whom they have a bonding for several years now, Kumaraswamy said, adding, "people there will decide, not any political leader or anybody."
He said, "We will go before the people, and people will decide....those commenting on social media or Facebook are not voters, voters are in villages. Village voters will decide."
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