The Hindu : Karnataka News : `Dialogue king' delivers the message

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Apr 09, 2004

Karnataka

Karnataka

`Dialogue king' delivers the message

By R.Chandrakanth

BANGALORE, APRIL 8. The Bharatiya Janata Party's road show, "Karnataka Uday Yatra," which commenced here today had a star performer in Sai Kumar, who is popular as "dialogue king".

The film actor stole the show and eclipsed the yatra's charioteer, if one may call H.N. Ananth Kumar, President of the State unit of the BJP, so.

In his booming voice, Mr. Sai Kumar put across the message of the BJP to the masses at Anekal, Ramamurthynagar, Hoskote, Bharatinagar, and Yelahanka, like no campaigner of the BJP has done so far. Though the monologues of the "dialogue king" were repeated at each of these places, it had the desired effect on the young voters.

Mr. Sai Kumar tried to invoke nationalism, talking about the "holy motherland," the Hindutva philosophy of tolerance, and the BJP leadership that was rooted in India.

April 20, he said, was as important as January 26 and August 15, and the voters had the opportunity to give a mandate that would keep the nation's pride in tact.

He reminded the voters of the achievements of the National Democratic Alliance Government, led by Atal Bihari Vajpayee, and that the Congress would take 50 years to list them.

Talking about the State Government here, Mr. Sai Kumar said the fact that the Chief Minister, S.M. Krishna had moved from his home constituency — Maddur — to Chamarajpet in Bangalore showed how he had forgotten the farmer. "The farmer is crying, but Mr. Krishna is talking about high-tech," he said.

Making a pitch for the BJP candidate for the Kanakapura 's Lok Sabha constituency, Ramachandra Gowda, Mr. Sai Kumar introduced him "Ayodhya ke Ramachander, Kanakapura ke Ramachandra."

This drew applause from the crowd at the intersection of Chandapura.

The country's development agenda was at the crossroads and if it had to be continued at the Centre and in Karnataka, the voters had to exercise their franchise in favour of the BJP. He said the BJP was sure to secure 300 seats in the Lok Sabha polls and it could even surpass it if the "Vajpayee wave" was transformed into votes across the country.

The BJP road show began from the Gavi Gangadhareshwara Temple at Gavipura Guttahalli where Mr. Ananth Kumar and his wife, Tejaswini, offered prayers for the success of the BJP at the hustings. Mr. Ananth Kumar referred to the former Chief Minister, the late Ramakrishna Hegde who, according to him, offered prayers here before the polls and they were answered.

From there, the yatra, without any police escort, passed through the city roads to reach Chandapura on the Hosur Road.

There were traffic snarls along the way and the yatra was running late by nearly 90 minutes.

Mr. Ananth Kumar spoke at length on the "misdeeds" of the State Government, referring to the stamp paper scam; online lottery, and suicide by farmers. He also ridiculed Mr. Krishna for deserting his home constituency.

At Ramamurthynagar, the yatra found another star campaigner in H.T. Sangliana, the former Director-General of Police, who exhorted the people to "sweep the Congress out."

The road show, according to Mr. Ananth Kumar, is going to be in three phases.

In the first phase, Mr. Ananth Kumar will be on the road till April 11, covering Doddaballapur, Sidlaghata, Bagepalli, Gauribidanur, Madhugiri, Sira, Kallambella, Huliyur, Hosadurga, Holalkere, Chitradurga, Challakere, Jagalur, Mayakonda, and Bharamasagara.

The other road show, which will be led by the MLC and chairman of the BJP's campaign committee, B.S. Yediyurappa will be from April 9 to 12, starting from Basavakalyan, Hulsur, Bhalki, Aurad, Kamalapur, Jewargi, Shahapur, Shorapur, Deodurga, Manvi, Sindhanur, Siraguppa, Kuragodu, Sandur, Shiggaon, Hanagal, Haveri, Byadgi, and Ranebennur.

The schedule for the third phase has not yet been finalised.

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