Mangaluru: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will organise a padayatra and public meeting in Mangaluru on Friday, November 6, as part of its ‘Prajaprabhutva Ulisi-Arajakate Alisi’ (Save Democracy-Eradicate Anarchy) campaign. Around 20,000 people from Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts are expected to participate in the programme.
The campaign is aimed at countering what the BJP describes as misinformation spread by the Congress over Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The party has also alleged that such campaigns are intended to create political unrest in the country.
The padayatra will begin at 3 pm from Mini Vidhana Soudha near Clock Tower and proceed towards Kadri Grounds, where a public meeting will be held.
Union Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas Suresh Gopi and Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya are among the prominent leaders scheduled to address the gathering.
Around 5,000 participants from Mangaluru South
The BJP expects around 5,000 participants from the Mangaluru City South Assembly constituency alone. Party workers and supporters from across Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts are also expected to join the march.
The programme is being organised as part of the party’s wider campaign against what it considers attempts by the Congress to undermine public confidence in democratic institutions and electoral processes.
Vedavyas Kamath targets Congress
Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, Mangaluru City South MLA D Vedavyas Kamath said the Congress, including Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, was unable to accept the NDA government’s return to power for a third consecutive term under Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Kamath alleged that the Congress was spreading misinformation about EVMs and the SIR exercise. He said the BJP had launched the campaign to create awareness among the public and counter what it described as misleading claims.
The BJP has positioned the campaign as an effort to defend democratic institutions and oppose what it alleges are attempts to create instability through political misinformation.
The Mangaluru programme is expected to bring together party leaders, elected representatives, workers and supporters from the two coastal districts. The padayatra will conclude with the public meeting at Kadri Grounds, where the visiting leaders are scheduled to address the gathering.