Bengaluru, 31 August

BJP will launch its 10-day, 185-km ‘Ballari Chalo’ padayatra from Lingasugur in Raichur district on Tuesday, protesting alleged corruption, failures and “anti-people policies” of the Congress government.

The march will highlight issues concerning women, youth and farmers, seek justice for the Valmiki community and raise alleged scandals under the Congress. It will pass through Maski, Sindhanur, Karatagi, Gangavathi, Kampli and Sandur before concluding in Ballari.

The march was announced with a demand for the removal of B Nagendra over alleged embezzlement in the Valmiki corporation. Nagendra resigned on Friday.

Union Ministers Pralhad Joshi and HD Kumaraswamy, BJP State president BY Vijayendra and Opposition leaders R Ashoka and Chhalavadi Narayanaswamy are expected to attend. However, JD(S) leaders may stay away amid reported differences over the schedule.

HDK is attacking BJP, not Congress

Meanwhile, Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Monday said Kumaraswamy was targeting the BJP, rather than the Congress, over alleged irregularities in Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) recruitments.

“Kumaraswamy is not fighting against us (Congress). He is fighting the BJP,” Shivakumar said, adding that Kumaraswamy was free to make allegations and release documents he claimed would create a “storm”.

Kumaraswamy had on Sunday attacked the Congress government over alleged KPSC recruitment irregularities and questioned Rahul Gandhi’s silence on the issue.