CM Bommai and Yediyurappa to begin statewide tour ahead of Karnataka polls
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai and BJP strongman B S Yediyurappa will kickstart the party's election tour in the state from Raichur on Tuesday, in the run-up to assembly polls next year.
The duo are scheduled to cover 52 Assembly segments till December 25, as part of the 'Jana Sankalpa Yatra'.
The ruling party's tour begins at the time when Congress' Bharat Jodo Yatra led by Rahul Gandhi is passing through the state.
"The intention of the Jana Sankalpa Yatra is to inform the programmes, work and policies of BJP government in the state and at the Centre, and also send a message to BJP office-bearers and workers to prepare for elections with a resolve to bring BJP back to power in the state," Bommai said.
Speaking to reporters here ahead of leaving for Raichur, he said, "There is enthusiasm everywhere. Through the Jana Sankalpa Yatra, we hope to gain the confidence of the people and to be victorious in the 2023 assembly polls."
According to the Chief Minister, during the tour, he will be interacting with beneficiaries of various schemes and visit certain places as planned by the local party functionaries.
Responding to a question, Bommai said he and his party are not worried about Congress' Bharat Jodo Yatra, and said the foot march has no impact.
"The world knows, it is 'jodoing' (uniting) whom and 'thodoing' (dividing) whom. It has no importance. We are not worried, we are doing our sankalpa (resolution) yatra to win the election by informing people about our programmes. There is no connection with it (BJP's tour with Congress' yatra)," he added.
Incidentally, BJP's tour begins from Raichur Rural assembly segment, an ST reserve seat that has a huge presence of the Valmiki community.
The state government had last week decided to hike the reservation quota for SCs from 15 per cent to 17 per cent and for STs from 3 per cent to 7 per cent. The 'Valmiki Gurupeetha' seer Prasannananda Swami has been on a hunger strike demanding the ST quota hike.
Bommai and Yediyurappa will be touring predominantly in the 'Kalyana Karnataka' region.
Of the 52 seats which they will be touring, 20 constituencies are currently represented by Congress MLAs and four by JD(S).
Also, BJP state president Nalin Kumar Kateel will be touring Haveri, Gadag and Hubli-Dharwad over the next three days.
The party has also planned seven rallies by SC Morcha in Mysuru on October 16; OBC Morcha in Kalaburagi on October 30, Raitha (farmer) Morcha in Hubballi on November 13; Yuva (youth) Morcha in Shivamogga on November 27; ST Morcha in Ballari on November 27; Mahila (women) Morcha in Bengaluru on December 25 and Minority Morcha in Vijayapura on January 8 ahead of the polls.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
3 killed in landslide during road widening at Hulikal ghats in K'taka, CM announces ex-gratia
Shivamogga (Karnataka) (PTI): Three labourers were killed and four others injured after a landslide struck a road construction site at Hulikal Ghat in this district, police said on Friday.
The deceased have been identified as Raghavendra (37), Raju (30), and Shabbir (40), all engaged in wall construction work at the site, they said.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced a compensation of Rs five lakh each to the families of the deceased.
The incident occurred late Thursday afternoon at a hairpin bend in Hulikal Ghat in Hosanagara taluk, they said.
According to officials, a massive landslide of soil and rocks from the hillside buried the workers.
A total of seven workers were caught in the landslip. Three labourers died on the spot after being trapped under the debris.
Rescue teams managed to pull out four injured workers and shift them to hospitals in nearby areas, including Kundapura and Udupi, for treatment, they said.
The mishap took place during ongoing efforts to build a retaining wall aimed at ensuring the safety of vehicles navigating the ghat section, which is known for its steep curves and landslide-prone terrain.
An SDRF team from Mangaluru reached the place early Friday morning and took up relief work.
Police, fire and emergency personnel rushed to the spot soon after the incident and launched rescue operations.
Authorities said the sudden collapse of loose soil and rocks from the upper slope is suspected to have triggered the landslip.
A case has been registered, and an investigation is underway to ascertain whether adequate safety measures were in place at the worksite.
Taking to 'X', CM Siddaramaiah said that regarding the incident, I have spoken with District In-charge Minister Madhu Bangarappa and obtained information.
"I am deeply saddened to hear the news that three workers lost their lives when soil collapsed during the construction of a road barrier at a bend in Hulikal Ghat, in Hosanagara taluk of Shivamogga district. I pray that the souls of the deceased unfortunate workers attain eternal peace, and that their family members find the strength to bear this sorrow," he said.
These breadwinning lives, which were the support of their families, have been lost in this tragedy, and on humanitarian grounds, a compensation of Rs five lakh each will be provided to the families of the deceased workers, the chief minister added.
