BJP to take up Congress challenge in Mysore

After the gruelling 16-day 320-km walkathon to the bastion of of the Reddy brothers that has bolstered the image of the Congress, the BJP is now going the whole hog to take on Congress leader Siddaramaiah on his home-turf of Mysore. It hopes to counter the challenge his party has posed in the political drama that Karnataka is witnessing presently on the illegal mining scandal.

The ruling party is leaving no stone unturned to challenge the Congress effectively in the power base of the opposition leader in the Assembly who led the Congress padayatra to Bellary along with party president R V Deshpande, by putting up a show of strength and rhetoric at a public meeting in Mysore on August 14 at 11 am.

While reports said the Congress’ show of strength in Bellary had a gathering of 2-300,000 people, the BJP has drawn up plans to put up a similar show of strength in the power base of Siddaramaiah. Its three leaders, district in-charge minister S Suresh Kumar, transport minister R Ashok and MLA C T Ravi, are supervising brisk arrangements for the public rally which will be addressed by some bigwigs of the BJP, at the state as well as the national-level.

The BJP ‘Jana Jagruthi Samaveshwa’ (public awareness meeting) was earlier scheduled for August 12. It was, however, postponed to August 14 for accommodating the visit of BJP leader L K Advani for addressing the public rally.

Chief minister B S Yeddyurappa is scheduled to visit Mysore twice this week. The first time, on August 12, to preside over the Dasara high-power committee meeting. He will return to Mysore on August 14 from Mangalore to address the party rally at the Maharaja’s College grounds. He will travel by a special aircraft and the modernised Mandakalli airport, which is yet to see commercial flights, will be of use.

The city will be bedecked with 6,000 BJP flags and 1,500 flexes. Seating arrangements will be made for 50,000 people at the venue. Food will be distributed to 20,000 people each at the six venues. KSRTC, regional transport muthority, police and health departments’ help has been sought to ensure proper arrangements and security, the party leaders said in Mysore on Tuesday.

A large number of party workers and supporters are expected to participate in the rally from the neighbouring districts. They will arrive in buses specially drafted for the purpose.

The Mysore rally is one of the four BJP is presently organising in the state to give a reply to the Congress, which is challenging the BJP government on the alleged illegal mining issue.

The first two have already been held in Davangere and Gulbarga. After the Mysore rally, the concluding rally is planned in Bellary.