Bengaluru : Leader of Opposition and former chief minister Siddaramaiah denying speculation of senior Congress leaders not campaigning for the upcoming by-polls said that all leaders are campaigning for the party.

Speaking on the issue on Thursday, Siddaramaiah said, “Allegations that most Congress leaders are not campaigning for the upcoming assembly by-polls is not true, all leaders are campaigning.”

He further questioned, “Why can’t you ask the same question to BJP? Why is only Yediyurappa roaming around? Why are Modi and Amit Shah not campaigning?”

“HK Patil is looking after Gadag district and Davangere. VS Ugrappa is also at Davangere and senior leaders are also campaigning,” he said.

Siddaramaiah further expressed that their party main aim is to win a maximum number of seats in these by-polls and they are presently not thinking about government formation in the state.

Earlier this month, the Supreme Court upheld K R Ramesh Kumar’s decision to disqualify 17 rebel Congress-JD(S) MLAs under the anti-defection law and said that they can contest the upcoming by-elections in the state.

Assembly by-polls to the 15 assembly seats in Karnataka are scheduled to be held on December 5 from 7 am to 6 pm.

The by-elections would take place in Athani, Kagwad, Gokak, Yellapura, KR Pura, Yashwanthapura, Hirekerur, Ranebennur, Vijayanagara, Chikkaballapura, Hoskote, Mahalakshmi Layout, Shivajinagar, KR Pete and Hunsuru.

According to the Election Commission, the last date for filing nomination is November 18. The date of scrutiny of nominations is November 19 and the last date for the withdrawal of candidates is November 21.

The counting of votes would take place on December 9.