Modi chants Vikas mantra, sets stage for BJP's poll campaign

Prime Minister Narendra Modi set the stage for the start of the BJP's election campaign in the state - Nava Karnataka Parivartan Yatra - by launching an attack on the Congress during his daylong visit  to the state on Sunday.

The 75-day Yatra, which BJP national president Amit Shah will flag off in Bengaluru on November 2, is aimed at exposing 'corruption' in the Siddaramaiah-led Congress government.

Modi's pit stop at the HAL airport here on Sunday afternoon came as a shot in the arm for the party. In a brief address to BJP workers and supporters at the parking lot of the airport, Modi invoked his famed vikas (development) agenda. "It looks like the people of Karnataka cannot wait for elections," Modi said, while Union ministers, D V Sadananda Gowda and Ananth Kumar, and party workers cheered on. "Like many other states, Karnataka is waiting to join the path of vikas. I am fully confident that Karnataka will be integrated into the path of vikas that the nation is treading," he said.

BJP state president and chief ministerial face B S Yeddyurappa will helm the Yatra, which will be flagged off at the Bengaluru International Exhibition Centre on Tumakuru Road. Over a lakh party workers are expected to attend it.

CM hits back

Meanwhile, in Mysuru, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Sunday said Modi government has failed to introduce pro-people programmes. The people of Karnataka are well aware of whom Modi is interested in developing.

Speaking to reporters at Mysore Airport, Siddaramaiah said the Congress government has introduced several development projects in the last four-and-a-half years. "What did the BJP do during its tenure in the state. They did nothing."

Modi has not introduced a single programme he promised before elections. "Where is the black money. Have they (Union government) waived farm loan, have they given special drought package, has demonetisation benefited the poor," he questioned.