DK’s Mekedatu video goes viral

Bengaluru: Ahead of the much-publicized 170 km padayatra from Mekedatu to Bengaluru seeking implementation of the Mekedatu project , a video of Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) President D.K.Shivakumar appealing to people to join the stir is making rounds in the media. The video has been shot at Mekedatu which is situated in Kanakapura taluk of Ramanagara district. Wearing a silk dhoti, silk shirt and silk shalya, Shivakumar is seen in the video requesting everyone to join the padayatra from Mekedatu that will start on January 9, 2022 and conclude on January 19. A drone had been used for shooting the video. The Congress leader is seen standing on the big boulders and in the background, the river Cauvery can be seen. This video has been specially designed to build the momentum for the much-touted padayatra to whip up the feelings of people of the Cauvery basin who have an emotional bond with the Cauvery.

Several leaders including CLP leader Siddaramaiah, Mallikarjun Kharge and Dr.G.Parameshwar are expected to take part in the padayatra. Siddaramaiah has decided to walk all the way from Mekedatu to Bengaluru walking 16-18 km daily. In fact, both Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar had participated in the padayatra from Bengaluru to Ballari after Ballari MLA G Janardhan Reddy had challenged then Leader of Opposition Siddaramaiah to enter Ballari.Accepting the challenge, the Congress leader walked over 380 km for a period of one month and addressed a mammoth rally in Ballari City. In the 2013 Assembly elections, the BJP lost not only in Ballari but also in the state with B.S.Yediyurappa floating a new party called ‘Karnataka Janata Party’. So, the Congress feels the ‘padayatra’ could clear its path to power in the state.