The Aryavarth Express
Agency(New Delhi): Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to initiate the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) campaign for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections with a rally in Karnataka’s Kalaburagi district, a significant move as it is the home district of Congress President M Mallikarjun Kharge. The event is scheduled for March 16, marking a strategic start in a region that has historically been a Congress stronghold. Kharge, a veteran Congress leader, had won Lok Sabha elections from this constituency in 2009 and 2014 but was defeated by the BJP’s Umesh Jadhav in the last general elections.
This political maneuver is aimed at bolstering the BJP’s prospects in Karnataka, the only southern state where the party has previously held power. V Sunil Kumar, the BJP’s state general secretary, announced that Prime Minister Modi would also hold a rally in Shivamogga on March 18, further intensifying the party’s campaign efforts in the state.
The BJP dominated the last Lok Sabha elections in Karnataka, securing 25 out of 28 seats, a significant achievement reflecting the party’s strong foothold in the state. However, the recent Assembly elections saw a shift in power, with the Congress achieving a decisive victory by securing 135 seats in the 224-member assembly, relegating the BJP and JD(S) to 66 and 19 seats respectively.
Despite these changes, the BJP aims to reclaim its dominance in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. The party’s strategy includes deploying high-profile leaders, including BJP President J P Nadda, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, to campaign across various constituencies in the state. This concerted effort underscores the BJP’s commitment to retaining its influence in Karnataka and leveraging its national leadership to sway voters in key constituencies.