As part of his two-day tour of poll-bound Karnataka, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief Amit Shah will visit mutts associated with the Lingayat and Dalit communities in a bid to reach out to the communities.
On Monday, Shah will be visiting the Sri Siddaganga mutt in the morning followed by a series of events where he will be addressing the farming and trading communities of the state as well as a road show in Shivamogga.
He will conclude the day with a visit to Bekkinakal mutt.
The visit is crucial as the Lingayats, who are seen as loyal voters of BJP have recently warmed up to the Congress after the Siddaramaiah government’s decision to accord them minority religion status.
Shah’s visit to the holy places of the community and meeting its gurus is being seen as a part of the BJP’s efforts to ensure that the community, the largest in the state, continues to back the BJP.
On Tuesday, Shah will visit Madara Chennaiah mutt, which has been traditionally associated with Dalits.
The BJP is making an all-out effort to unseat the Congress from the only big state where the grand old party is in power.
Assembly elections in the state are due in late April-early May.
(With inputs from agencies)