karnataka: BJP prepares for polls; four teams touring the state | Bangalore News

As the BJP won the Sindgi and lost Hangal in Congress, BJP officials said they did not want to take risks in the upcoming elections, starting with the polls for 25 seats on the legislative council of local urban bodies and rural. These will be followed by polls for the zilla panchayats and taluk panchayats, who will test the parties ahead of the assembly ballots.The four teams will be led by the party chairman Nalin kumar kateel, former Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa, Minister of Rural Development and Panchayat Raj KS Eswarappa and former Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar. They will visit selected regions for three days starting November 21, hold public rallies and meet with local officials.“We want to be ready for the polls well in advance and this tour is the first phase of preparation,” said BJP general secretary and MLC N Ravikumar, also a leader of the team led by Yediyurappa.While the Kateel team will cover the districts of Kalyana Karnataka, the Yediyurappa team will cover Kittur Karnataka. The Eswarappa team received Malnad and coastal districts and Shettar will cover the remaining districts of Bangalore and South Karnataka.“This tour is important in view of the upcoming MLC elections,” said BJP MLC Lahar Singh Siroya. The BJP will secure a majority in the upper house if it wins 13 of 25 seats at the polls, including seven from which its members will retire in January 2022.Some upset membersA section of the BJP is upset that leaders are ignoring Yediyurappa’s offer to lead the state tour on his own. “Sending four teams will confuse voters, while leaders like Yediyurappa will be forced to step down. The party would have benefited if a single team led by Yediyurappa toured the state, ”said BJP MP and Yediyurappa confidant SR Viswanath.