BJP heavyweights to launch K'taka poll campaign from Apr 21

Bangalore, April 19: The

is set to launch its

for the May 5

assembly elections on April 21 in a grand way.

Party's senior leaders like L K Advani, Rajnath Singh, Venkaiah Naidu and Sushma Swaraj, along with the state leaders will launch the campaign simultaneously from six places in the state on the same day. While Advani will launch the campaign from Ranebennur and Davangere, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Swaraj will address a rally in Bangalore.

Party president Rajnath Singh will address a rally in Chikkodi while his deputy Naidu will seek votes in the Telugu-speaking belt comprising Raichur, Shindhanur and Gangavathi. Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar will launch his campaign in Bidar and Gulbarga while the national vice-president and former Karnataka CM D V Sadananda Gowda will campaign in Mysore.

Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi was yet to finalise his dates to the state BJP but his itinerary was expected to be finalised in a couple of days. State BJP president Pralhad Joshi said this while dismissing media reports that Modi was not keen to tour Karnataka owing to the bad image that the ruling party has earned in the state in the last five years.

The BJP has planned out 192 programmes like rallies, road shows and public functions for the state polls and these programmes will be attended by the central leaders. The party has also decided to hold at least three programmes each in the 110 constituencies where it thinks it could win.

The party has also decided to take action against Venkat Gowda for not filing nomination from Melur despite the party's instruction. Gowda reportedly withdrew from the fray to support former minister SN Krishnaiah Setty, who is contesting the polls as an Independent candidate.

OneIndia News