Amid unfavourable pre-poll survey predictions, the BJP in Karnataka is leaving no stone unturned to ensure a victory in the Assembly elections. BJP senior leaders Nirmala Sitharaman and Rajnath Singh are in Karnataka on Wednesday to spearhead the party campaign.
Besides the duo, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adithyanath will also address rallies in the state on Wednesday.
As per the tour programme, Finance Minister Sitharaman will fly from Bengaluru to Kalaburagi on Wednesday by a special flight. She will address a press meeting at 10 am and another one at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry Hall.
Sitharaman will also hold a women's conclave at Aland in Kalaburagi district. She will also take part in a door-to-door campaign in Kalaburagi city.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will reach Belagavi by a special aircraft from Delhi and then fly in a helicopter to Kagwad to campaign for the party candidate Srimant Patil, the current Karnataka Minister for Handloom and Textile. He also has public meetings scheduled at Kagwad, Belagavi and Jamkhandi.
Yogi will reach Mysuru airport by a special aircraft before proceeding to Mandya, where he will hold a road show followed by a public meeting. From Mandya, he will fly to Hubballi and Basavana Bagewadi in North Karnataka. He also has a public address at Indi in Vijayapura.
Meanwhile, the pre-poll surveys have come as a damper for the ruling BJP, reportedly fighting an anti-incumbency wave in the state. The pre-poll surveys conducted by regional media houses are predicting an edge for the Congress, indicating the possibility of a hung verdict in the May 10 Assembly election.
Most pre-poll surveys predict nearly 100 seats for D K Shivakumar-led Congress party though it will fall short of touching the halfway mark. Except in one survey, the BJP's tally will be around 80-95 seats. The JD (S) is likely to come third but could end up being a significant player in case of a hung assembly.
However, Union Home Minister and senior leader Amit Shah has snubbed the pre-poll surveys, stating that the BJP that is going to emerge victorious after the polls. "The pre-poll surveys are always in favour of Congress. They claim that Congress will win and also state that there is going to be intense competition. But after the results are declared, BJP will emerge as the winner," said Shah, who was in the state on Tuesday.
