MANGALURU: KPCC president BK Hariprasad on Monday stepped up his attack on the BJP’s ongoing padyatra in Karnataka, dubbing it a “paid-for padyatra” and alleging that the march was being used by veteran BJP leader BS Yediyurappa to project his son, BY Vijayendra, as a key leader of the party.
Speaking to reporters, Hariprasad said the BJP had been struggling with a leadership vacuum in Karnataka for the past three years. He claimed that if the padyatra had genuine public support, people would have joined it voluntarily without any arrangements being made for their participation.
“If this were a popular padyatra, people would join it voluntarily. That is why I call it a paid padyatra,” Hariprasad said.
He alleged that Yediyurappa was trying to establish Vijayendra’s leadership but claimed that several BJP leaders in the state were not ready to accept him.
According to Hariprasad, the padyatra was being used to project Vijayendra’s leadership and generate publicity. He also alleged that the BJP was attempting to secure media coverage through what he described as “paid news”.
BJP march began on September 1
The BJP’s padyatra began in Lingasugur in Raichur district on September 1, with BY Vijayendra launching the campaign. The march is scheduled to conclude in Ballari on September 10.
The BJP has been using the padyatra to highlight allegations against the state government and raise issues relating to governance and corruption.