BJP state president BY Vijayendra and party members offer prayers at Sri Kanaka Durga temple in Ballari
The march, which began at Lingasugur in Raichur district on Sept 1, covered nearly 200km across parts of north Karnataka.
Ballari: Karnataka BJP president BY Vijayendra Thursday branded DK Shivakumar a “real estate chief minister”, using Shivakumar’s recent description of himself as “90% businessman and 10% politician” to launch a sharp attack on the govt at the culmination of BJP’s 10-day Ballari Chalo padayatra. “This real estate chief minister and business oriented chief minister cannot ensure the progress of the state,” Vijayendra said, addressing the Ballari Chalo Samaropa Samavesha (valedictory). Participants began the final leg from Valmiki Circle, where senior BJP functionaries garlanded the statue of Maharshi Valmiki before joining the concluding programme.
About 1,200 police personnel were deployed and traffic restrictions and diversions imposed around key junctions.
Vijayendra said the march was only the first phase of BJP’s campaign against the Congress govt and vowed to continue the agitation until the next assembly elections. He alleged the govt had failed to address issues concerning north Karnataka and said BJP will continue to raise matters relating to farmers and regional development. He also sought to highlight dissent within Congress, citing criticism of Shivakumar by members of his own party. The rally was preceded by a dispute over permission for the event, with the district administration initially granting conditional approval before allowing it inside the city.
Former chief minister BS Yediyurappa , opposition leader R Ashoka, legislative council opposition leader Chalavadi Narayanaswamy, former chief ministers Basavaraj Bommai and Jagadish Shettar, BJP MPs and other senior functionaries attended the rally.