Trip to SA

That's what 40 Congress supporters won for helping former chief minister Veerappa Moily become an MP

Trip to SA

That's what 40 Congress supporters won for helping former chief minister Veerappa Moily become an MP

Former chief minister Veerappa Moily is saying thank you to all 40 boys who worked for his victory by packing them off to South Africa.

MiD DAY stumbled on this while trying to figure out how Dr Rajkumar posters made it to South Africa where Indian Premier League T-20 matches are being played.

What we found: the boys waving the Kannada icon's posters were no cricket freaks but were there because Moily had reportedly gifted them the trip for their hard work during the polls.

"He has sent a batch of his supporters to the IPL T20 matches," said the friend of a party worker who is in South Africa.

Package trip

Moily, who hails from the coastal district of Dakshina Kannada, contested from Chickballapur constituency, near Bangalore.

His chances of winning were dim as the BJP had recently roped in J Narasimha Swamy, son of four-time MP R L Jalappa. The father and son have a strong hold over the district.

Moily trounced BJP's C Ashwathnarayana and C R Manohar of the JD(S), thanks to some inspired campaigning by Congress workers.

Pleased, Moily reportedly sent 40 workers in the first batch to enjoy the Royal Challengers in action.

But they aren't going to be in that country through the season. They are expected back in Bangalore tomorrow.
"Moily has spent nearly Rs 50,000 on each supporter's travel and stay," said a source.

"They bought the posters here in Bangalore," said Ramanna, brother of a visitor. "They displayed it in South Africa to show Kannada pride."

Moily denies

But Moily refused to take credit for the boys' South Africa trip.

"I haven't done anything like that. I have no idea about it," Moily, who was in Hyderabad, told MiD DAY.

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