PM to visit Karnataka thrice this month to woo voters

Chief Minister Bommai is learnt to have requested the PM to visit the state more frequently in the run up to the Assembly polls. The State government has listed several programmes to be inaugurated especially in the districts

Shyam Sundar Vattam I NT

Bengaluru: Ahead of the crucial Assembly polls, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is visiting Karnataka three times in the current month in connection with the inauguration of a slew of developmental works as well as to address public meetings.

As per the itinerary, Modi will visit Bengaluru on February 6 to take part in an international conference on Energy followed by the opening of the helicopter manufacturing unit by HAL in Tumakuru.

Again, the PM will be coming to Bengaluru on February 13 to inaugurate the muchpublicized Airshow in Bengaluru in which CEOs of various national and international companies will participate. There will also be a display of the aircraft manufactured by India as part of the Make in India and ‘Atma Nirbhar’ scheme.

On February 27, Modi is visiting Shivamogga to inaugurate the newlybuilt Shivamogga Airport, a dream of former CM and veteran BJP leader, B.S.Yediyurappa who had promised an airport for his native district.

Yediyurappa had invited Modi for the event when he had come to the state last time to which the latter agreed. After the formal inauguration of all these developmental works, the PM will be addressing public meetings to seek votes based on development done by the ‘double-engine governments’ in the last four years.

Shah’s tour to the State Union Home Minister Amit Shah too has plans to visit poll-bound Karnataka multiple times. Shah was in Dakshina Kannada on Friday and is planning to visit other places in the coming days. Last week, he was in Dharwad for laying the foundation stone for the FSL University and also to address rallies as part of the Jan Sankalp Yatra.

More visits in March, April Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai is learnt to have requested the PM to visit the state more frequently in the run up to the crucial Assembly polls. The State government has listed several programmes to be inaugurated especially in the districts where the saffron party has not yet opened its account.

The ruling BJP wants Modi to address as many rallies as possible since he has been the star campaigner of the BJP. In 2018, the saffron party had almost crossed the magic number of 113 seats of the total 224 seats but fell short of a simple majority by a few seats. This time, the BJP has set a target of 140 seats but will be happy if it can win 115-120 seats.