New Delhi: With the Karnataka assembly elections just four days away, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a 26 km roadshow in Bengaluru, while several other party heavyweights like Union Minister Amit Shah and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath addressed public meetings across the state Saturday.
During the roadshow covering nearly 13 constituencies, supporters queued up on both sides of the road as the PM’s cavalcade passed. While riding on the top of a truck, Modi waved his hands and acknowledged the crowd cheering for him. People also showered flower petals on him.
Later in the day, the PM tweeted that the response to the roadshow showed how “clear” it is that “Bengaluru wants BJP”.
“This city believes that our party will continue delivering on good governance and development,” he added.
One of the supporters attending the rally was dressed up as Hindu god Hanuman, possibly in relation to the PM’s recent attack on the Congress for proposing to ban Bajrang Dal in its Karnataka election manifesto.
Later on Saturday afternoon, the prime minister reiterated his party’s popularity and electoral successes during a rally in Badami, a town located 450 km north of Bengaluru and home to historic cave temples.
Addressing a rally in Badami. The enthusiasm of people is reflective of Karnataka's desire to elect the BJP. https://t.co/YxpmefnP3A
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 6, 2023
Modi also hit out at Karnataka’s opposition leader Siddaramaiah, stating that it is “futile” for him to campaign in Badami and arguing that there was no significant infrastructural development in this part of Karnataka before the BJP came to power.
“Before 2014, the cost of data/internet was around Rs 300 per GB. Today, it has come down to around Rs 10 per GB. BJP has ensured robust connectivity and great infrastructure in the country,” the PM added.
The attacks against the Opposition also came from Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who at a rally in Athani, accused the Congress of promising to restore reservations for Muslims “at the cost of reducing the same” for Lingayats and persons belonging to SC and ST communities.
Reiterating that the BJP would “not allow” religion-based reservations, Shah also hit out at Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge for his prior criticism of the PM. “The more they abuse Modiji, the more the lotus will bloom,” Shah added. He later led a roadshow in Raybag, located 50-odd km southwest of Athani.
Elsewhere in Karnataka, BJP president J.P. Nadda addressed a roadshow in Chintamani located roughly 80 km northwest of Bengaluru, while Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath addressed a rally earlier Saturday in Chikmagalur.
Adityanath’s address was notable in particular as he branded the Congress as “playing with the Hindu faith” by talking of banning the Bajrang Dal, a day after Congress leader Veerappa Moily clarified that there were no such plans in the Congress’ election manifesto since a state party “cannot ban” the Bajrang Dal.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma also weighed in on the issue when addressing a crowd of supporters in Gonikoppa, labelling Congress’ Karnataka state committee president D.K. Shivakumar as a “family member” of 18th century Mysore kingdom ruler Tipu Sultan. “If Congress will regain power, Karnataka will become a PFI valley,” Sarma added.
As for the Opposition, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge is holding a joint rally with party stalwart Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi in Hubli on Saturday evening.
Earlier in the day, Rahul Gandhi addressed supporters in Chikkodi and criticised both Modi for not taking action on corruption and the BJP-led government in Karnataka for “doing nothing” for the state’s youth, women and farmers.
JD(S) leader Deve Gowda also announced the release of his party’s election manifesto at his residence in Padmanabhanagar Saturday but refused to comment on the PM’s Bengaluru roadshow.
(Edited by Richa Mishra)