Modi’s rally may upset JD(S)-Congress balance in Mysuru, Mandya

BENGALURU: PM Narendra Modi will spend a few hours in Karnataka on a whirlwind tour of Chitradurga and Mysuru on Tuesday. He will address a rally in Bengaluru on April 13.

Modi’s visit to Mysuru comes at a time when the JD(S)-Congress combine is experiencing deep fissures at the ground level in Mysuru, Tumakuru, Mandya and Hassan districts barely 10 days ahead of the Lok Sabha polls.

Mysuru is the political epicentre for Mandya, Hassan, Chamarajanagar and Mysuru Lok Sabha seats, where both the JD(S) and the Congress have a strong presence and have traditionally fought each other. Tuesday’s rally in Mysuru will target voters in Mysuru-Kodagu and Chamarajanagar Lok Sabha seats, held by the BJP and the Congress, respectively.


After his shocking electoral setback from Chamundeshwari seat in Mysuru in the Assembly polls last year, former chief minister Siddaramaiah is pulling out all stops to wrest the Mysuru Lok Sabha seat. Another setback will deeply hurt Siddaramaiah’s stock as he has managed to get the seat for the Congress after tough seat-sharing negotiations with the JD(S). He has been trying to buy peace with JD(S) to counter Modi’s influence and win Mysuru.

On Tuesday, Modi will first address a rally in Chitradurga before heading to Mysuru. He will wind up his campaign for the day with a rally in Coimbatore in the evening, BJP leaders said. “The PM’s campaign rallies in Mysuru will have a deep impact in Mandya, Kodagu, Mysuru, Chamarajanagar and Hassan districts. His intervention will further boost the party’s strength,” said BJP spokesperson Malavika Avinash. “Modi’s speech is sure to influence first-time as well as millennial and undecided voters to take a position. Watching the PM speak in your hometown will leave its own impact,” said Bhargavi Hemmige, a former Syndicate member at Mangalore University.

Mysuru-Kodagu MP Pratap Simha (BJP) claimed a pro-Modi wave in his seat. “The PM came five years ago and promised development. He delivered on his promises and gave ?13,000 crore worth of projects to my constituency,” he told ET.