Karnataka CM says Congress will counter BJP's Ballari padayatra in its own style

Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Tuesday dismissed the BJP's 'Ballari Chalo' padayatra as a mere political ploy to divert attention from the party's internal differences. He asserted that the Congress would counter the opposition's campaign in its own style.

"Let them take out 100 such padayatras. We will counter them," Shivakumar told reporters, adding that the Congress has far more experience in organising such marches. He cited the party's earlier padayatras on the Ballari, Mekedatu, and Krishna water issues, as well as the Kanyakumari-to-Kashmir yatra, all of which he said were aimed at protecting the interests of the state and the country.

The Chief Minister also criticised the BJP for disrupting the recently concluded legislature session by demanding the resignation of minister B. Nagendra. He noted that Nagendra had resigned despite no irregularities being proven against him, and said he would respond to the matter at an appropriate time.

The BJP had announced the padayatra from Raichur to Ballari to press for Nagendra's resignation and to highlight alleged irregularities and failures of the state government. Even after Nagendra quit, the party decided to proceed, saying the march was not limited to that issue.

Political observers see the padayatra as an attempt by the BJP to regain ground in Ballari, Nagendra's home district, and to woo voters from the Valmiki community, a Scheduled Tribe, as the route passes through areas with a significant Valmiki presence. Nagendra has been chargesheeted in an alleged embezzlement of funds meant for ST welfare.

Shivakumar's statement that the Congress would respond in the BJP's own style is being interpreted as a signal that the ruling party may launch a similar campaign or take political countermeasures in Ballari and surrounding regions to retain the support of the Valmiki community.