Modi proves biggest crowd-puller for beleaguered BJP
BANGALORE: Can Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi infuse lifeblood into the low-spirited BJP in Karnataka before the May 5 assembly elections? At least party leader and former Union minister Anant Kumar says he can.
Modi on Sunday overcame his initial hesitation to campaign in Karnataka and attacked the UPA government and the Congress leadership before BJP workers and the public with the gusto he is known for.
He addressed more than 20,000 people at the National College Ground, which has a capacity of around 30,000. Though party leader LK Advani had drawn bigger crowds in the past, Modi’s crowd-pulling power surpassed what Advani, Lok Sabha opposition leader Sushma Swaraj and party president Rajnath Singh were able to do this time.
Kumar also said Modi had agreed to go to North Karnataka on May 2 for another campaign. Sources in the BJP said Modi was also going to HubliDharwad, the hometown of chief minister Jagadish Shettar, Anant Kumar and BJP state chief Prahlad Joshi.
Congress general secretary BK Hariprasda told HT Modi would not do anything other than resorting to “gimmicks”.
“Modi targeted the Congress, Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi. He cannot fool the people of Karnataka by giving false information. In BJP- ruled Karnataka, a dozen MLAs went to jail, another dozen are on bail and FIRs are booked against another dozen MLAs.” he said.