By R. Narayan
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) may do much better in Karnataka in the forthcoming Assembly elections if Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses a number of rallies in the Vokkaligas-dominated central and old Mysuru region.
The Janata Dal (Secular) or JDS has a strong presence in the area and has been winning most of seats in this belt. A change in strategy and PM’s addresses may attract a sizable number of party supporters.
The JDS has won more than 25 seats in all the three previous elections and this belt has been contributing much to its success.
Between 2004 and 2013, the worst performance made by the party was in 2008 when it had bagged only 28 seats. In the rest of elections it had done much better. The party had captured 58 seats in 2004 and 40 in the previous polls.
If the BJP has to do better and score over the Congress it has to win a good number of seats in this area.
Most of the party leaders, talked to, strongly believe that if the PM agrees to address 25 to 30 rallies, mostly in this region, the situation will change much in favour of the party and the ruling Congress will find the going very tough.
“There is no doubt about it. If Modi jee holds three or four meetings in this belt, we will win a number of seats”, hoped Narayan Prasad, a party office bearer in Chamarajnagar.
If a senior party leader in Mysuru is to be believed, the party had requested the Prime Minister to devote ten days in the state and address 30 rallies. It was not found possible. “He has agreed to be here for five or six days only and address 12 meetings”, he said. Dates and places are yet to be decided.
The party Karnataka in-charge also did not throw much light on it. “We are finalising places where PM will hold rallies”, Murlidhar Rao said.
Hindusthan Samrachar/ R. Narayan/ Shri Ram Shaw
