BENGALURU: BJP National President Amit Shah is set to confront head-on the Siddaramaiah government's poll strategy to dent BJP's Veerashaiva-Lingayat vote base. Shah will lead a protest against "divisive politics of Congress" in Dharwad on April 12.
Shah will be on a visit of Dharwad, Gadag, Bagalkot, and Belagavi districts on April 12 and 13. The master strategist of the party will continue his mutt rounds in the region. He is also taking time off to pay his respects to state's icons like poet Da Ra Bendre, Rani Chennamma and Sangolli Rayanna, who fought gallantly against the British.
Shah had visited the memorial of Karnataka's national poet DV Puttappa, popularly known as Kuvempu, at Kuppalli in Shivammoga district during his previous visit to state.
The visits to pay respects to Karnataka's icons are being seen as BJP's counter to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah who is allegedly trying to play the "Kannadiga pride" card in the Assembly election.
Shah, who is set to arrive in Hubballi on April 11 night, will visit Siddaruda Mutt on April 12 morning and head to Sadhanakeri to pay his respects to the memorial of poet Da Ra Bendre at Sadhanakeri.
He will lead a protest dharna at 11 am opposite the office of the Deputy Commissioner in Dharwad against "the divisive politics of Congress." Shah's elaborate tour plan clearly reflects the determination to reach out to Veerashaiva-Lingayat in the backdrop of Siddaramaiah government's move to "divide the community." Shah will participate in a programme to mark the conclusion of "Mushti Dhanya Sangraha" campaign at Abbigeri in Gadag district at 12.40 pm, BJP has said in a release.
Shah will visit the ashram of Puttarja Gavai, Veeranarayana Swamy Temple and Murusavira Mutt in the afternoon. He is scheduled to address a public rally in Dharwad Rural.