Bengaluru: According to senior leader and former chief minister of Karnataka BS Yediyurappa, the BJP had organised three teams led by senior leaders that would begin travelling around Karnataka on Tuesday to lay the ground for the state assembly elections next year.
He urged Hindus and Muslims should live their lives as “children of one mother” in an appeal to halt the state’s sectarian strife.
“From April 12 to 24, in three teams, we will be travelling across the state. BJP state president Nalin Kumar Kateel will be in the first team, our national general secretary (Arun Singh) and I will be together in the second team and Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai will be in the third team,” Mr Yediyurappa said.
Talking to reporters in Bengaluru, he said this tour is aimed at strengthening the party, holding discussions with party workers for drawing up strategies and preparing for the polls.
“Such tours will continue here…in the first phase we will be travelling in three teams,” he added.
According to BJP officials in Delhi, each team will consist of seven to eight persons. In addition to Mr. Yediyurappa, the teams will include national general secretary CT Ravi, former chief ministers Sadanand Gowda and Jagdish Shettar, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi, and state ministers Eshwarappa and R Ashok, among others.
JP Nadda, the BJP’s national president, will also visit the state for a few days.
Each of the three teams, which will include ministers, MLAs, and other leaders, will conduct the exercise in various parts of the state.
According to the sources, the team members will spend at least two days in various places to guarantee that the feedback exercise is comprehensive.
BJP leaders in Karnataka have set a target of 150 seats (in the 225-member assembly) for the 2023 elections, according to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who visited the state earlier this month.
The BJP central leadership has also ordered leaders of its Karnataka unit and ministers to bring the developmental agenda to the fore and highlight the government’s achievements in light of the upcoming elections, according to sources.
In answer to a query, Mr Yediyurappa stated that the chief minister has stated that the government will not tolerate such (flare-ups in communal issues) things and has warned mischief-makers who try to disrupt peace of serious action.
“We have to live together and see to it that such incidents don’t repeat here…let’s stop all these and do our jobs. Muslims also should lead a peaceful and respectful life,” he added.
In the last few months, the state has been rocked by a succession of communal crises.
It began with the hijab controversy, which was followed by requests to prohibit Muslim sellers from Hindu religious fairs, a boycott of halal meat, and the shutdown of mosque loudspeakers.
Hitting out at Congress leaders for protesting against price rise, Mr Yediyurappa said as the chief minister has also stated, the price rise is nothing compared to the surge that was during the Congress’ tenure and the opposition party was indulging in such things, as they don’t have any other issues.
“…we all will have to work together for the development of the State. Siddaramaiah and D K Shivakumar (Congress leaders) should not cause confusion on such issues,” he said.
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