Ensure BJP emerges as number one party in Old Mysuru region: Amit Shah to Karnataka leaders
Bengaluru (PTI): Union Minister Amit Shah, who is on a visit to poll-bound Karnataka, on Friday night asked party leaders from the Old Mysuru region of the state to ensure that the BJP emerges as the "number one party" there.
The BJP, considered to be weak in the Vokkaliga community-dominated Old Mysuru region, is focusing on this belt to gain complete majority in the 2023 Assembly polls.
According to party sources, Shah has also ruled out the possibility of the BJP entering into an understanding with any other party, including the JD(S).
"For about three hours, Amit Shah held a meeting regarding the party organisation in the Old Mysuru region, the number of seats to win and the preparations for it. He spoke to everyone ministers, ex-ministers, sitting MLAs, ex-MLAs and leaders, and gathered inputs from them," Revenue Minister R Ashoka told reporters after the meeting late Friday night.
"He (Shah) said the dominance of the JD(S) and the Congress in Old Mysuru should end and the BJP should emerge as the number one party. With this plan, he will once again come here next month on a visit," Ashoka said, adding that the meeting will inspire the party's leaders and cadres.
The meeting was attended by Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, state BJP president Nalin Kumar Kateel, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi and the party's general secretary in-charge Arun Singh among others.
Hitting the ground running in poll-bound Karnataka, Shah earlier in the day addressed a public meeting in Mandya, where he termed the Congress and the JD(S) "parivaarvadi" (dynastic) and "corrupt", and urged the people of Old Mysuru region to support the BJP.
After the late night meeting, BJP national general secretary C T Ravi said the strategies discussed cannot be shared with the media. Winning is important and Shah has given certain directions in this regard, he added.
"We will abide by them and making BJP the number one party in the Old Mysuru region is our priority," he said.
Asserting that there is no question of entering into an understanding with anyone, Ravi said, "BJP winning is important."
The Old Mysuru region is largely seen as a bastion of the JD(S), where the Congress is strong too, but the BJP is trying to make inroads. The region consists of districts like Mandya, Mysuru, Hassan, Tumakuru, Chamarajanagar, Bengaluru Rural, Kolar and Chikkaballapur among others.
Among other engagements on Saturday, Shah is scheduled to have a breakfast meeting with party leaders and then take part in the BJP's booth presidents and booth-level agents' convention at the Palace Ground in the evening.
He is also expected to meet Nirmalanandanatha Swamiji the head pontiff of Adichunchanagiri Math, the party sources said. The influential Math in the old Mysuru region is highly regarded, especially by the Vokkaliga community.
Ravi had on Wednesday said the party would be giving special focus to the Old Mysuru region in the run-up to the assembly polls, as it has realised that without winning the confidence of the people in the region, it cannot get a majority in the state.
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Vijayanagara: One dead, 12 injured as trucks hits their vehicle from behind on NH 50
Vijayanagara: One man was killed and 12 others were injured after a truck hit vehicle they were traveling in on the National Highway 50 stretch on the outskirts of Koodligi in the district.
The accident victim, Madhu (27), is learned to have been an employee of Reliance Digital from Andhra Pradesh.
The vehicle was reportedly traveling from Bengaluru to Koodligi and the passengers are learned to have been seriously injured following the collision with the truck, which was found to have a Maharashtra registration.
Koodligi Deputy Superintendent of Police (DySP) Mallesh Dodmani and Circle Inspector Prahlad Channagiri arrived at the accident spot on being informed of the accident.
The police officers and locals rescued the injured passengers and got them shifted to the Koodligi Government Hospital. Some of the passengers were reportedly taken to the Ballari Trauma Care Centre for further treatment.
A case has been registered at the Koodligi Police Station and the officers are investigating the incident.
