Actors Shiva Rajkumar, Ramya campaign for Siddaramaiah in Varuna

Mysuru: Kannada actor Shiva Rajkumar joined Congress leader and former chief minister of Karnataka Siddaramiah during his election campaign at Varuna, a district near Mysuru on Thursday. In addition to Geetha Shivarajkumar, wife of Shiva Rajkumar, actor Nishvika Naidu, actor-turned-politician Ramya, and others participated in the event supporting Siddaramiah. The Congress leader's celebrity-studded campaign took place a day after Amit Shah, the Union Home Minister, supported V Somanna, the BJP candidate from Varuna.

Siddaramiah claimed that his roadshow with Shiva Rajkumar, who is also the brother of the late Kannada superstar Puneeth Rajkumar, has improved his standing in the district ahead of the approaching elections on May 10. He also expressed his gratitude to Dr Rajkumar's family for their assistance, The News Minute reported.

"I need not tell you about the development work done by Siddaramaiah. You all know about it. My father (Kannada film legend Rajkumar) had a very good rapport with Siddaramaiah. You have to make him win," said Shiva Rajkumar.

Somanna, who also serves as the state's housing minister, attacked Siddaramiah in the meantime and said that the Varuna constituency lacks a college, hospital, and adequate roads. "Siddaramaiah has grown desperate and roped in film stars for campaigning. He earlier maintained he will come for campaigning for only one day and now he is coming every day. I have a very good relationship with Dr Rajkumar family. I have built a big hospital in the name of late superstar Puneeth Rajkumar," he said.