Karnataka's Congress unit is preparing to launch a second 'Bharat Jodo' foot march across 84 Assembly constituencies where the party faced defeat in the 2023 elections. State unit president B K Hariprasad announced the initiative on Monday, confirming the march will commence on September 30 from Shikaripura in Shivamogga district. This extensive ground campaign aims to reconnect with voters and recover lost political ground.
The upcoming foot march is planned to coincide with the anniversary of Rahul Gandhi's original Bharat Jodo Yatra entering Karnataka on September 30, 2022. Hariprasad stated the new march will span 29 districts, in addition to the 11 districts previously covered by Gandhi's yatra, and is projected to continue for 84 days. Each day's march will begin at 1:00 PM and conclude with a public meeting, fostering direct interaction with residents.
Shikaripura, a known BJP stronghold currently represented by state president B Y Vijayendra, serves as the symbolic starting point for the campaign. Former Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa held the seat prior to Vijayendra, and Vijayendra's elder brother, B Y Raghavendra, is the Shivamogga MP. The Congress intends to leverage this location to highlight what it describes as shortcomings in BJP's programs. The inaugural march on September 30 expects participation from Shivamogga district ministers and party workers, including Zameer Ahmed Khan, B L Shankar, and Madhu Bangarappa. Subsequent programs will roll out continuously across the targeted districts from October 4 or 5.
Beyond electoral recovery, Hariprasad indicated the march will also raise public awareness regarding the functioning of constitutional institutions, alleging that Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar is causing them damage. While a concluding event will mark the end of the 84-day campaign after all constituencies are visited, specific details regarding its venue or potential involvement of central Congress leadership remain undisclosed. Some districts might be covered multiple times, depending on strategic requirements.
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đź“° Source: Sahil Online