Congress president Rahul Gandhi, who kicked off his fifth leg of election campaign in Karnataka on Tuesday, is all set to fly to Holalkere in Chitradurga district and address a gathering on Wednesday. Notably, BJP president Amit Shah had addressed a mega public meeting at the same place a month ago.
After visiting Holalkere, the Gandhi scion will go to Siddaganga Math in Tumakuru district to meet the 111-year-old seer of Siddaganga Mutt Shivakumara Swamy, a revered Lingayat pontiff.
Gandhi would meet people in Kunigal town and would conclude another round of campaigning by addressing a public campaign at Magadi in Ramanagar district before leaving for Delhi.
The Congress leader’s meeting with Shivakumar Swamiji is aimed at strengthening his party’s base among Lingayats. While Shivamogga and Davangere have substantial Lingayat population, Chalkere and Holalakere in Chitradurga are dominated by tribals, Dalits and other backward castes.
On Tuesday, Gandhi had claimed that his party would retain power in Karnataka by securing a majority in the May 12 Assembly elections.
“The Congress will retain power in Karnataka. Our government will not work for only industrialists but also farmers, weaker sections and the poor,” said an upbeat Gandhi at public rallies in the state’s central districts.
Polling for the 224 Assembly segments will be held on May 12 and votes counted on May 15.
The Congress chief, on a two-day visit to the southern state for the fifth time in two months, assured the people that his party and the new government would work for the further development the state.
(With agencies inputs)