BJP's Ballari Chalo March to End with Public Rally, Campaign to Go On

The BJP's 10-day 'Ballari Chalo' padayatra will formally conclude on Thursday with a large public meeting in Ballari, but the party's political campaign against the Congress government in Karnataka will not stop, according to state BJP president B.Y. Vijayendra.

Speaking to the press on Wednesday after arriving in the city a day before the march's end, Vijayendra said the foot march received strong support from party workers, the public, and the media. He outlined the schedule for the final day: leaders will visit temples in the morning, resume the march from Valmiki Circle in the afternoon, and the main stage programme will begin at 4:30 p.m.

Several senior leaders are expected to attend the concluding event, including former Chief Ministers B.S. Yediyurappa, Basavaraj Bommai, and Jagadish Shettar, along with opposition leaders R. Ashok and Chalavadi Narayanaswamy, and state BJP in-charge Radha Mohan Das Agarwal.

Vijayendra described the padayatra as the first phase of the party's struggle against what he called the "corrupt" Congress administration. He said the BJP would continue its "people-oriented struggle" even after the march ends. He added that the walk gave him a chance to interact closely with women, farmers, youth, and nomadic communities, calling it a memorable turning point in his political career.

He estimated that 40,000 to 50,000 people would attend Thursday's meeting. He also questioned the district administration's decision to allow the programme only until 6:30 p.m., arguing that while a start time can be fixed, the end of a peaceful gathering should be decided by participants. He alleged that banners for the march were removed overnight and that officials were acting under pressure from the state government. He asserted that the BJP would protest within the law but that legal provisions should not be misused to block peaceful demonstrations.

On the next assembly elections, Vijayendra said the party would contest under the collective leadership of senior leaders and the guidance of the central leadership.

The padayatra began on September 1 at Lingasugur in Raichur district. It was initially aimed at pressuring the government to remove minister B. Nagendra, an accused in the alleged irregularities at the Karnataka Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation. After Nagendra announced his resignation on August 28, the party widened the campaign to address broader issues against the state government and continued the march to Ballari.