BJP's Karnataka campaign launched without top leaders

Bangalore, April 8: There was a false start to the BJP's meeting to launch campaign for the

today. Due to various reasons, no national leader could make to the meeting at Palace Grounds in Bangalore. But this gave an opportunity to the state leaders to stand united and kick-start their re-election.

The state leaders did launch the campaign by saying 'sorry' to the public for squabbling and generating discontent, after getting mandate to govern in 2008. They apologised to the people and sought vote to complete the party's agenda.

There was seriousness in their approach and even the party president, Rajnath Singh, added to the certainty of purpose by announcing Jagadish Shettar as the BJP's chief ministerial candidate in the Karnataka.

Singh addressed the Bangalore rally-meeting through video conferencing after his aircraft developed some snag and he had to return to New Delhi mid-way. The BJP president, along with senior leaders Sushma Swaraj and Arun Jaitley, was to visit Bangalore to kick-start the party's election campaign today.

He announced that BJP leaders L K Advani and Narendra Modi will be the party's star campaigners in Karnataka.

Singh admitted that his party faced "adverse" situation after removing B S Yeddyurappa as Chief Minister over allegations of corruption, but said his party would not spare anyone indulging in corruption.

"I want to assure the people of Karnataka that anyone indulging in corruption will not remain in his chair in the BJP," he said.

"BJP is not a party run by individuals. It is run by team spirit," he said.

He said Shettar did not get enough time to work for the welfare of the people of the state, but performed well in the limited time he had. Singh claimed that Karnataka was among the "best performing" states which had BJP government, including Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh.

The BJP rally witnessed good attendance from public and the ministers. There was confidence in party and it seemed that the BJP was ready to accept the outcome but is not giving in without a fight.

Meanwhile, the BJP today suspended two of its MPs from Karnataka for anti-party activities. They are former chief minister BS Yeddyurappa's son BY Raghavendra (Shimoga) and Shiv Kumar Udasi (Haveri), son of Yeddyrappa's supporter CM Udasi.

OneIndia News