Karnataka BJP counts on PM visit to consolidate voters via development plank

Bengaluru: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Karnataka on Monday to supplement the state BJP unit's efforts to retain power in the face of mounting attacks from Congress and JDS ahead of the assembly polls.

On Monday, the PM will kick- off the India Energy Week in Bengaluru and proceed to Gubbi taluk in Tumakuru district to launch HAL's state-of-the-art helicopter factory. He will also lay the foundation stone for Jal Jeevan Mission projects at Chikka Nayakana Halli and Tipaturu at the same event.

Modi will address people at these official events but there won't be any political engagements. The state BJP has separately planned yatras from four corners of Karnataka by the end of this month.


There are airports, expressways and other projects either ready for commissioning or set for foundation laying by the PM. He is slated to visit the southern state this month and in March.

All these government projects, besides other welfare schemes, are directly benefiting people, BJP national general secretary CT Ravi told ET. In Karnataka, at least three out of five persons are beneficiaries of government initiatives.

"We will work to convert them into our voters by highlighting our work. This has worked in Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat, and we are confident it will work in Karnataka too." His party colleague MH Sridhar said it was evident from the PM's recent visits to the state, he has been mentioning only about development aspects in his speech. "He has only been placing a report card of performance by the double-engine government before people."

The helicopter unit in Gubbi, he added, will add thousands of direct and indirect jobs, improve incomes for locals and transform the economy. The PM is keen to unveil the benefits of development to people, rather than counter others with political rhetoric.