JOIN USThe State BJP will launch its first leg of election campaign simultaneously from six locations across the State on April 21 with senior party leader L K Advani canvassing in Ranebennur and Davangere.
Speaking to reporters after holding a meeting of the party’s election management committee in Bangalore on Thursday, BJP State President Pralhad Joshi said campaigns will also be launched from Bangalore, Chikodi, Raichur, Bidar and Mysore, the same day.
Leader of the Opposition Sushma Swaraj will campaign in Malleswaram, along with party national general secretary Ananth Kumar.
BJP national president Rajnath Singh will hold political rallies in Chikodi.
Former party national president Venkaiah Naidu will address election rallies at Raichur, Sindhanoor and Gangavathi, while Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar and his predecessor D V Sadananda Gowda will tour Bidar and Mysore, respectively.
The party has booked two helicopters and a special aircraft for the campaign, Joshi said.
The second leg of campaign would be announced in a few days. Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi is likely to campaign in the State on April 28.
Joshi alleged that the Centre had put on hold the State’s share of additional allotment of rice and wheat to be distributed through fair price shops for BPL and APL families for political reasons.
The State was supposed to receive an additional quota of 38,832 metric tonnes of rice and 11,029 metric tonnes of wheat for BPL and APL families for the month of April. However, the Centre had put on hold the additional quota without assigning any reason.
The party will order an internal inquiry to ascertain the reasons for party nominee in Malur, Venkatesh Gowda, failing to file his nomination.
* L K Advani/Pralhad Joshi Ranebennur and Davangere
* Sushma Swaraj/Ananth Kumar Malleswaram, Bangalore
* Rajnath Singh Chikodi
* Venkaiah Naidu Raichur, Sindhanoor
and Gangavathi
*Jagadish Shettar Bidar and Gulbarga
D V Sadananda Gowda Mysore