Modi, Shah to be star campaigners; Yogi not on list

Though the candidature of Prime Minister Narendra Modi from Bangalore South constituency is still shrouded in mystery, there is little doubt that Modi will be the star campaigner for BJP for the second consecutive Lok Sabha election. The state BJP unit has already urged the party high command to organise rallies by the PM to take on the joint campaign by coalition partners Congress and JD(S).

Apart from him, BJP national president Amit Shah and Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh are expected to be star campaigners. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who was a prominent campaigner for BJP during the Assembly elections held last year, is unlikely to campaign in Karnataka for the Lok Sabha elections.

BJP leaders of the state, who have urged the party high command to hold nine rallies of Modi in various parts of Karnataka, are hopeful that Modi will address at least four rallies ahead of the polls. Speaking to Deccan Herald, BJP state general secretary C T Ravi said rallies by Modi were among the several campaign events organised in the run-up to the polls.

“We have urged the high command to hold nine rallies by Modi in different parts of the state, including Bengaluru and Mangaluru. It is being considered by the high command and will be communicated to the BJP state unit shortly. We are expecting him to hold four rallies in different parts of Karnataka, urging the electorate to ensure a BJP victory,” he said. However, sources said there could be some last-minute changes as the party might also decide to increase the number of Modi rallies.

“For instance, Modi participated in more than 10 rallies in the last 10 days of campaigning for Assembly elections last year. Several of these rallies were planned at the last moment, based on voters mood at the ground level. The high command may decide to hold more rallies as Modi continues to be the most popular leader,” sources said. The number of rallies by Shah and Singh are yet to be finalised.

Sources said due to the electoral target set for Yogi Adityanath in his home state, he is unlikely to campaign in Karnataka. Modi and Yogi were the star campaigners in 2018.

With Yogi facing a setback in bypolls in Uttar Pradesh, the party high command has entrusted him with the task of winning the same number of seats BJP had won riding on the Modi wave in UP in 2014.

According to BJP Rajya Sabha MP Rajeev Chandrashekar, the party would hold multiple media briefings and social media campaigns ahead of elections.

“We would like to highlight the failures of the previous Congress governments and the present coalition government in Karnataka, contrasting the same with the achievements of the Centre, he added.

In Hassan

BJP MLA Preetham Gowda said in Hassan that Modi will campaign for BJP candidate A Manju in the city and the date of the programme is yet to be finalised.

In a press conference, the MLA said the people of the district are unhappy with the JD(S) and will vote the BJP to power.