BJP to expose 'scams' in state govt during 75-day yatra

The state BJP is planning to expose 'scams' in the state government at regular intervals during its 75-day Nava Karnataka Nirmana Parivarthana Yatra, which was launched by party national president Amit Shah in Bengaluru on Thursday.

According to party sources, the plan is to expose a 'scam' when the yatra enters a major district headquarter. A detailed route map has been prepared which takes the yatra to all the 224 Assembly constituencies in the state.

After the launch at Bengaluru International Exhibition Centre, the yatra with a specially designed ratha as the lead vehicle reached Kunigal where a convention was held.

'Corruption' in the state government will be a main political plank of the BJP during the course of the entire yatra being led by party state president B S Yeddyurappa. The BJP recently came out with documents to buttress its charge that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Energy Minister D K Shivakumar were involved in a "mega scam" of Rs 447 crore relating to the state-owned Karnataka Power Corporation Limited (KPCL). Another set of documents were released last month wherein the party accused Siddaramaiah of illegally denotifying land in Bengaluru that resulted in a loss of Rs 300 crore to the BDA.

The top brass of the party will also utilise the yatra as a platform to "gauge" and "assess" the commitment of Assembly ticket aspirants of the party. The involvement and contribution of the aspirants in organising the logistics of the yatra as it enters different constituencies is being monitored.

Party functionaries will also assess the mood and pulse of the electorate as the yatra criss-crosses the length and breadth of the state covering around 7,500 kms.
While three public rallies have been scheduled per day, three major conventions have been scheduled during the course of the yatra - these will be at Hubballi (December 21), Mysuru (January 25) and Bengaluru.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the yatra on its concluding day in Bengaluru on January 28.