The Excise Minister began the 66-km walkathon at 6 am after garlanding Basaveshwara statue at Chalukya Circle. The padayatra is scheduled to conclude on Tuesday after a special pooja at Revanasiddeshwara temple in Ramanagara district. The Minister and the supporters earlier met Yeddyurappa at his Race Course residence and greeted him on the occasion.
Though Renukacharya claimed that the padayatra has no political significance, the BJP, sources said, wants to show off its strength in Ramanagara, which is considered a JD(S) bastion.
The JD(S) led by H D Kumaraswamy had been campaigning against the BJP government and even instigated some BJP legislators to revolt against Yeddyurappa’s leadership.
The Excise Minister said the aim was to create awareness among the people about achievements of the BJP government in the last three years.
Published 30 May 2011, 18:53 IST