PM Modi's Bengaluru roadshow blitz now spread over weekend

BENGALURU: What was meant to serve as the crescendo to ruling BJP’s high-octane campaigning for the May 10 assembly elections in the state has now been split over two days. The planned BJP roadshow that was to be helmed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself on Saturday, spanning over 34km in Bengaluru, will now be conducted in two parts — on Saturday (May 6) and Sunday (May 7).
According to the revised plan, the campaign titled ‘Namma Bengaluru, Namma Hemme’ will now cover 17 of the 28 assembly seats in the city.
“Modi wants to personally see everyone in the city and wants to visit 17 assembly segments. Since it may cause inconvenience to the people if organised on a single day, we have decided to hold it over two days, on May 6 and 7,” said Shobha Karandlaje, BJP poll management panel convenor.
On Thursday, she convened a preparatory meeting on Modi’s roadshow and took stock of the preparations. She said the roadshow will begin on Saturday at 10am from the Kempe Gowda statue in New Thippasandra and culminate at the War Memorial, near Brigade Road Junction, with the first leg covering 10km.
On Sunday, the roadshow will resume from the War Memorial at Brigade Road Junction at 10am and end at Sankey Tank in Malleswaram at 1.30pm, after having covered 24km.
Shobha Karan dlaje added that details of the roadshow route map and timing will be published for the benefit of the public. The roadshow route has been mapped strategically by the party in order to cut across assembly segments that are presently represented by the Congress.
Meanwhile, with just four days left for publiccampaigning to end, Modi is scheduled to address massive public meetings on Friday. The first will be held in Ballari at 2pm, while the second is scheduled at 4.30pm in Tumakuru Rural. On Saturday, after the first leg of the roadshow in Bengaluru, Modi will address a rally in Badami at 4pm and one more in Haveri at 7pm.
On Sunday, after conclusion of the second leg of the roadshow in Bengaluru, the PM will address a public meeting in Shivamogga at 4pm.
Later in the evening, he will visit Srikanteshwara Temple after addressing a rally in Nanjangud at 7pm.