Karnataka Poll: Modi & Co will press in action from April 25; double-engine main plank
By Our Special Correspondent
New Delhi, April 20: Nomination filing process for Karnataka Assembly elections was completed on Thursday to set up for the big campaign in the state. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to lead the election charge from April 25 while the state unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has sent request for 15-20 rallies from the top campaigner of the party.
“We are now done with the nomination filing process. We are awaiting a response from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO). We have made request for 15-20 rallies from Modi. But the PMO has not yet responded. We will get a clarity soon,” said a senior BJP functionary from Karnataka.
The BJP, sources said, will be heavily utilizing Modi in regions which are seen to be challenging for the ruling party in the state. “The role of Modi will be to convert tough seats in the BJP’s favour. His rallies will be held in districts where the pollsters are giving edge to Congress or the Janata Dal (Secular). His role will thus be to swing the tough seats to BJP’s advantage,” sources added.
The BJP top guns will press in action from April 25 onwards for the single-phase Many 10 election in Karnataka. The BJP is likely to release the performance reports of the Basavaraj Bommai government on May 26. Union Minister Rajeev Chadrashekhar is taking care of the report on the performance of the Bommai government.
“The double-engine will be the principal poll plank for the BJP. This is the narrative to build a pro-incumbency wave in favour of the party. Modi and other leaders have to work on the double-engine poll plank,” added the BJP functionary.
The BJP chief, JP Nadda, had also been harping on the double-engine poll plank of the party, and his remark on Wednesday about “blessings of Modi” was roasted by the Opposition Congress, with the former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah hitting out, saying that “Karnataka needs no one’s blessings”.
Barring Nadda, no national BJP leaders, including Modi and Shah, have visited Karnataka after the Elections Commission announced the poll date. The BJP leaders were busy in the ticket distribution task, which, sources said, was challenging as the party worked on a generational shift in the candidate selection. The BJP is also facing rebellion after former chief minister Jagdish Shettar, former deputy chief minister Laxman Savadi joined Congress.
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