Karnataka: Congress plans 3-year fete on May 20 on the heels of BJP’s Yediyurappa show

Bengaluru: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s followers are planning a major bash in Tumakuru on May 20 to celebrate the Congress regime’s completion of three years in Karnataka. It is most likely to be a government function as the event will also involve launch of work on quite a few projects.

Home minister G Parameshwara is leading the charge as the event is being planned in his home district of Tumakuru, a bustling educational and industrial town about 70 km from Bengaluru. The minister held a meeting with officials on Saturday on the subject and briefed them on what he expected of them.

The event will also have stalls by different departments highlighting their pro-people programmes and the success of the five flagship welfare guarantee programmes. The Congress is planning to mobilise more than two lakh people, most of whom are beneficiaries of the guarantee schemes.


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The ruling party also hopes to neutralise any anti-government sentiment the BJP event at Chitradurga celebrating BJP veteran BS Yediyurappa’s 50 years in public life on May 9 would generate.

Siddaramaiah’s followers are leading the Tumakuru show which is also designed to convey a political message to both the BJP and the Congress high command about the popularity of the chief minister among the masses.

The event’s preparations come amid efforts by Dy CM DK Shivakumar’s camp to project him as the next chief minister, while another group of MLAs are pressing for an early revamp of the Cabinet. The latter group is expected to resume its lobbying efforts in Delhi post the announcement of results for the two assembly constituencies which faced bypolls on April 9.

While it is not clear as yet on who will represent the AICC leadership on May 20, the BJP sources said Home Minister Amit Shah will kick off the Yediyurappa event, which some see as an attempt by BY Vijayendra to consolidate his position as state president.

Vijayendra, 50, will complete three years in November as the president of the BJP in Karnataka, and the scale of event’s success will demonstrate his grip on the party.Amit Shah’s endorsement, if any, on Yediyurappa event would cement his current position for another three years.

Vijayendra’s associates said the occasion will also help activate the party cadre and prepare them for the upcoming local body elections. The celebrations, they added, are also a part of Vijayendra’s efforts to lead the BJP to victory in the assembly polls two years away, and an attempt to unify different factions within the party torn apart by political differences.