The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is all set to launch its Kamal Jatre programme, which aims to connect with the voters in nine districts, to help the party in the upcoming Assembly polls.
A pilot for this programme, which will be showcasing the work done by the BJP-led NDA government in the Centre, was first held on February 16 in the Jevargi constituency of Kalaburagi district.
The party is now set to replicate the programme in nine districts of the state with more than 30 jatres planned in various locations in an attempt to reach out to rural voters. This weekend, the jatre is being held across in Bidar, Kalaburagi, Yadgiri, Raichur, Koppal, Bellary, Mysore, Tumakuru and Bengaluru rural districts.
Next week, the jatre will move to central Karnataka and the Mumbai Karnataka regions.
The BJP had held a similar outreach programme to success in Uttar Pradesh in the Assembly polls last year. It taps into the voter base by holding fairs with games, food stalls, magicians, laser shows, etc.
The food stalls will serve local delicacies, while there will also be a kids zone with joyrides, selfie booths and competitions like singing, etc., in the fair.
“The point is to make everyone feel involved in it. In North Karnataka and several other parts of the state, fairs are a part of the life in the area and we felt that it is a good chance for people to step out with their children,” said Prashant Maknur, who works with the BJP in rural areas of the state.
The Kamale Jatres follow the BJP’s extensive Parivartana Yatra campaign, which was held to mobilise party workers across the state ahead of the state Assembly elections. The Parivartana Yatra, which began on November 2, saw the party hold rallies across the state for three months, culminating in a final rally in Bengaluru, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed party workers.
