New Delhi, Sept 9: The BJP is set to exploit Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s image in Karnataka Assembly polls, as the party is planning to have his public meetings in seven different regions ahead of the elections early next year.
The BJP is conceptualising a high-voltage campaign strategy that will be built around its twin mascots -- Modi and chief ministerial candidate B S Yeddyurappa.
The dates and places of Modi’s public meetings will be worked out on the feedback from the state leadership, a senior party leader aware of electoral strategy stated.
The BJP leaders believe that their electioneering will pick up as Yeddyurappa hits the ground to undertake state-wide Nava Karnataka Nirama Yatra that would crisscross all the 224 Assembly segments.
Without getting into the details, BJP sources stated that the campaigning would have unique features drawing multiple sources, including social media platforms, to highlight the NDA government achievements and expose ‘corrupt’ Congress regime in the state. The party sources said that unlike other southern states, they are in a better position in Karnataka by having strong local leaders in Ananth Kumar and K S Eswarappa, apart from their tallest figure Yeddyurappa.
Claiming that Yeddyurappa’s traction among his powerful community of Lingayats is still strong despite the Congress trying to outwit the former chief minister, the BJP is also eyeing the Vokkaligas to make up in its weaker regions of south Karnataka. The party would utilise the services of its Vokkaliga leaders such as Union Minister D V Sadananda Gowda, former deputy chief minister R Ashoka and MP Shobha Karandlaje for massive outreach in their community largely spread across Mysuru, Hassan and Mandya.
BJP president Amit Shah had last month visited the Adichunchanigiri Mutt during his three-day long trip of Karnataka. The Mutt which has influence over the Vokkaligas, which constitute about 7 to 12% of the population, is linked to the Nath sub-tradition of Shaivism in Hindus. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is also chief priest of Gorakhnath Mutt of the Nath tradition.
BJP sources stated that some of the leaders of the JD(S), which has hold over the sizeable Vokaligas, are in touch with them to cross over. The party is also energising its booth-level workers.
Of the 54,000 booths that are spread over 224 Assembly segments, the poll managers have already assigned workers to 44,000 booths. The remaining would be done in next couple of months.
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