History will be made here on Sunday with the Karnataka Janata Paksha (KJP) “mega” convention, at which the former Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa will formally take over the reins of the outfit.
Of interest to the people here is how many BJP Ministers and legislators will attend the meet. Some legislators such as B.P. Harish, Nehru Olekar, G. Shivanna, Haratal Halappa, Vishwanath, Shivaraj Sajjanar, Mohan Limbikai and Vijay Sankeshwar have openly identified with Mr. Yeddyurappa.
According to Mr. Olekar at least seven or eight BJP MLAs will share the dais with Mr. Yeddyurappa, and at least another 20 will participate in the convention. The breakfast meeting hosted by Mr. Yeddyurappa in Haveri on Sunday is likely to see the participation of at least 10 to 15 Ministers, it is said.
According to Mr. Shivaraj Sajjanar, around 5,000 buses, 10,000 maxicabs and small goods vehicles, 25,000 cars and jeeps, and tractors carrying people are expected to reach Haveri on Sunday.
A special train from Mysore will also ferry people, and it is scheduled to reach Haveri at 9 a.m. on Sunday. A huge pandal has been erected on the 20-acre G.H. College Ground, and there will be separate enclosures for VIPs and mediapersons. While there will be food counters at the venue, party workers from nearby places such as Honnali (from where around 15,000 people are expected to participate) have been advised to bring food along with them.
Lodges, community halls and kalyana mantapas have already been booked.
The district administration has imposed restrictions on vehicular movement on Sunday and also banned parking of vehicles on PB Road between RTO office to Muktidhaam Road (Old PB Road) and earmarked spaces for parking.
