Bengaluru: The Opposition BJP launched its 10-day ‘Ballari Chalo’ padayatra aimed at creating public awareness on corruption of the ruling Congress dispensation and for getting  connected with the people at ground-level, from Lingasugur in Raichur district.

Veteran BJP leader and former Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa launched the padayatra, with top party leaders blowing the bugle in unison, at the 4-acre ground on Lingasugur bypass road in Raichur this morning, amidst the gathering of thousands of BJP workers.

Speaking on the occasion, State BJP Chief and MLA B.Y. Vijayendra said the launch of the mega padayatra that covers a distance of nearly 200 kms in 10 days, is a significant landmark

in the history of State BJP.

“A new era has begun in the State BJP with the launch of the ‘Ballari Chalo’. The State Government has meted out severe injustice to the people of Karnataka through embezzlement of funds at Valmiki ST Development Corporation, KPSC scam, misappropriation of funds reserved for SC/ST communities and  several other instances of misrule”, Vijayendra asserted.

He further said that former Chief Ministers and current MPs Basavaraj Bommai and Jagadish Shettar, Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly

R. Ashok, MLC Chalavadi Narayanaswamy, former Ministers B. Sriramulu, G. Janardhan Reddy and Shivanagouda Nayak, local MLA Manappa Vajjal, MLC Raghu R. Kautilya and a host of other party leaders would take part.

The BJP had announced the padayatra much earlier seeking the resignation of Minister B. Nagendra, who is a prime accused in the multi-crore Valmiki Development Corporation money-laundering case. But as Nagendra resigned last Friday, bowing to Opposition pressure, the BJP decided to go ahead with its planned padayatra, seeking accountability and focussing on issues of corruption, maladministration, failures  etc.,  targeting the ruling State Congress Government.

The ‘Ballari Chalo’ will pass through Maski, Sindhanur, Karatagi, Gangavathi,  Kampli and Kudathini (Sandur Assembly segment) covering three districts (Raichur, Koppal and Ballari) and nine Assembly segments, before culminating at Ballari city on Sept.10, with a massive rally.