The principal Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party on Thursday sounded the poll bugle by flagging off the 75-day Parivarthana Yatra, with party State president B.S. Yeddyurappa declaring that “the war has begun” to rout the ruling Congress.
“Having the same party governments both at the Centre and the State will be a boon for the development of Karnataka,” he said, addressing a convention of party workers. He appealed to the people to support the BJP in the forthcoming Assembly elections.
Party national president Amit Shah, who flagged off the yatra, said the aim was not just to change the Chief Minister and political dispensation, but to “transform the State”.
Union Minister Ananth Kumar said Mr. Yeddyurappa would deliver “Narendra Modi-model of governance” if the BJP was elected to power in the State. All the BJP State leaders, who addressed the convention, trained their guns on the Congress government, especially Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, accusing him of failing to prevent corruption.
A bike rally marked the convention, with party workers riding bikes and waving the party flag.
Mr. Yeddyurappa embarked on the yatra sporting a green shawl, which had become his identity when he had taken up a similar tour after the Janata Dal (S) refused to transfer power to his party in 2008.
A special vehicle has been designed at a cost of ₹90 lakh, with a stage, public address system, toilet, and a war room. There is even a theme song for the yatra. The tour will culminate in Bengaluru after covering all the 224 Assembly constituencies.
Empty chairs embarrass leaders
Though the BJP leaders had announced that nearly three lakh people would attend the rally, the turnout was far from that number. In fact, there were several rows of empty seats which left the party leaders embarrassed.
They blamed it on the Congress alleging that party workers were prevented from proceeding to the rally in several districts, including Chamarajanagar, Mysuru, and some parts of Bengaluru. Party State president B.S. Yeddyurappa told the convention that the Party would respond to such tactics by putting up a show of strength in other places.
