BENGALURU: BJP national president Nitin Nabin’s maiden visit to the state for three days starting Saturday late evening has created a buzz in political circles as it is being interpreted as a precursor to the turnaround of the party’s fortunes in the 2028 assembly polls in Karnataka.
It assumes significance as he is visiting after the party’s emphatic win in West Bengal which has also been attributed by critics to Special Intensive Review (SIR) of electoral rolls. He will also hold talks with the SIR wing of the party on Sunday.
He will engage in a series of meetings with the party leaders, including the legislators and MPs at the party’s office and address the workers at a resort on the outskirts of the city.
On Monday, Nabin is likely to meet the party’s key leaders and RSS functionaries before wrapping up his trip.
The key takeaways from his visit will result in the party’s revamp, if necessary, as it would be discussed with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah.
The issue of the party’s nomination for the RS seat from Karnataka, as the BJP can win only one out of the four, is also likely to be discussed. Union Minister and JDS leader HD Kumaraswamy has held talks with Nabin in New Delhi besides Modi and Amit Shah.
On Sunday Nabin will have breakfast at former chief minister BS Yedyurappa’s residence. Before visiting the party office he will offer prayers at Kadumalleshwara temple at Malleshwaram. At 3 pm Nabin will chair the BJP core commitee meeting at the party office and discuss the RS nomination issue.
Four electric vehicles have been arranged for him to travel during his stay in Bengaluru and there will be no grand reception or road shows to mark his visit, a BJP source said. About 1,000 party workers will gather at the party office to welcome him.
Priyank welcomes Nabin
Karnataka RDPR and IT/BT minister Priyank Kharge welcoming Nabin, albeit with sarcasm, suggested that the latter can experience Karnataka and the weather of Bengaluru. “He can experience how we (Congress government) ensured that the state is one of the economic engines of growth in the country.
Our expectation is that he should also tell the people of Karnataka and send a message to the rest of India on the issues of rise in the prices of fuel, medicines, and unemployment. How foreign and economic policies of BJP failed, he should speak frankly. Also, hopefully, he would sort out the leadership crisis within the BJP,” he suggested.
