Narendra Modi in Bengaluru LIVE: PM to Kickstart BJP's Poll Campaign in Karnataka

With the pro-Kannada organisations withdrawing their call for a Bengaluru shutdown over the Mahadayi river dispute with Goa, the BJP's event organisers are expecting at least one lakh people to attend the rally.

The bandh was called by Kannada Chalavali Vatal Paksha to protest the "inaction" by the central and state governments to resolve the Mahadayi river water sharing row. Terming it unconstitutional, the Karnataka High Court stayed the bandh called by the pro-Kannada farmers' groups on Sunday. 

THE WATER DISPUTE | Karnataka wants 7.56 TMC feet of water from Mahadayi for its drinking water needs in Mumbai-Karnataka region. The states wants to build barrages across Kalasa and Banduri two tributaries of Mahadayi. It can supply water to 180 villages and Hubli-Dharwad twin cities. When S M Krishna was the Chief Minister of Karnataka he started the work in 2002. The BJP government in Goa led by CM Manohar Parrikar objected to it and his government approached the Supreme Court demanding cancellation of the project citing ecological reasons.

HISTORY OF MAHADAYI RIVER | Mahadayi river is known as Mandovi river in Goa. The state capital Panaji is on the banks of Mandovi river. It is one of the smallest rivers in India. This rain-fed river originates at Bhimghad in Belgaum district of Karnataka. Renowned water expert, the late SG Balekundri first planned Mahadayi water diversion in 1970. The plan was to feed Malaprabha river and store the water in Navilatirtha dam in Karnataka's Dharwad district. This dam, built in the 1970s, has not been filled to its capacity, except three or four times.

Bharatiya Janata Party's state unit has opened online registrations for the mega event and is using social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and WhatsApp to personally invite the youth, techies, educated class and prominent citizens to the meeting on Sunday afternoon.

On January 25, BJP President Amit Shah’s public meeting in Bengaluru saw a moderate crowd amid a similar bandh called by pro-Kannada outfits. This time, however, the state BJP is not taking any chances and has instructed each of its booth-level leaders to get at least 10 persons to PM Modi’s public meeting, which is likely to set the BJP’s tone for Karnataka Assembly elections.

BANDH ROLLBACK | The Bengalaru bandh that was planned by Kannada outfits on Sunday to coincide with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit for the mega public meeting was called off after Karnataka High Court ordered a stay, terming it unconstitutional. Sunday’s bandh was called off by the same Kannada outfits that staged protests during Amit Shah’s visit last week over the Centre’s alleged inaction in the Mahadayi river dispute between Karnataka and Goa. The protesters will now observe a “black day”.

ELABORATE SECURITY | Elaborate security arrangements have been made for the last day events of the Nava Nirman Parivarthan Yatra at the Palace Grounds, a sprawling venue in the city centre, where the BJP is expecting at least one lakh people to attend. While Prime Minister Narendra Modi was scheduled to address the rally on January 28, on the conclusion of the three-month yatra that began in Bengaluru on November 1, it was put off to February 4, owing to his pre-occupation with other engagements.

MODI IN BENGALURU | On the final day of the 90-day Nava Nirman Parivarthan Yatra in Karnataka, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will reach the poll-bound Karnataka on Sunday. He will be addressing a BJP rally in capital Bengaluru. With the pro-Kannada organisations withdrawing their call for a Bengaluru shutdown over the Mahadayi river dispute with Goa, the BJP’s event organisers are betting on a huge response to the rally on a weekend.