With four of the five state assemblies winning, the BJP’s central leadership is now focusing on Karnataka, which is expected to go to the polls in 2023. Union Home Minister Amit Shah is visiting the southern state The party leaders are seen as the first step towards drawing an electoral roadmap for the state unit
On April 1, the BJP’s chief strategist will attend the 115th birth anniversary of the late religious leader Shri Shivakumar Swami at Shah Siddhaganga Math.
Siddhaganga Math is a prominent and influential Lingayat religious institution, visited by leaders of political parties, especially during elections, to gain the favor of the Lingayat community. Lingayats constitute about 16-17% of the population of Karnataka and are a politically strong class.
Former Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa has the strong support of this motto, which stood by the leader last year amid speculation of a change in leadership. Lingayat Math chiefs had appealed to the BJP to allow Yeddyurappa to complete his term.
BY Vijayendra, the BJP’s state vice-president, and Yeddyurappa’s son, is in charge of the arrangements before Shah’s visit to the monastery – seen as an attempt by the former chief minister to send a message to the BJP’s central leadership about his status as the most influential. Lingayat community leader.
Shah Shivkumar sought her husband’s blessings before the 2018 assembly elections to reach out to the Lingayats.
Interestingly, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will also visit the same Tumakuru-based monastery a day before Shah to pay homage to Shri Shivakumar’s husband’s grave.
Confirming Gandhi’s visit, Karnataka Congress chief DK Shivakumar spoke about how the Gandhi family was closely associated with Siddhaganga and said that the Congress was inspired by the tradition of mid-day meal motto to start schemes for school children in Karnataka.
On the same day, Shah will also visit Muddenhalli in Chikkaballapur district to take part in the ground breaking ceremony of a new medical college. As the country’s first Union Co-operation Minister, Shah will attend a co-operative conference (co-operative conference) at the Palace Ground, where he will unveil the logo of the state government’s proposed ‘Nandini Kheera Abhiruddhi Bank’ and re-launch ‘Yeshwini’. Planning.
A senior BJP leader, speaking on condition of anonymity, told News18 that Shah’s visit would be important as the state leadership would be given a clear roadmap for the upcoming assembly elections.
“Karnataka has become the gateway to the south for the BJP. Our government is in power and plans are already underway to ensure that the BJP wins as many seats as possible and forms the government again as the single largest party. There is a lot of excitement over the recent victories in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Goa and Manipur. Shahji’s visit will give us a clear roadmap, ”the leader said.
Shah ended his work for him by attending a meeting of the Karnataka BJP core committee later that day. The BJP’s internal squabbles have become a source of concern for the central leadership. On the one hand, BJP state and central leaders need to ensure that their Lingayat leaders remain united and the voter base of the community remains intact. The BJP, on the other hand, continues its efforts to attract other communities, such as the Vokaligas, who make up 15-16% of Karnataka’s vote bank, and who are traditionally seen voting for the Janata Dal (secular) or party. Congress.
The Karnataka BJP has been seen fighting allegations of polarization as it engages itself in various debates such as banning the hijab in class, calling on BJP leaders to ban halal meat, and anti-conversion bills.
Read all the latest news, breaking news and IPL 2022 live updates here.