Bengaluru, 25 August

The Karnataka BJP will undertake a 10-day padayatra from Raichur to Ballari from 1 to 10 September to highlight the alleged failures of the Congress government, party State President BY Vijayendra said on Tuesday.

The BJP plans to highlight the induction of B Nagendra into the Cabinet, who is facing corruption charges in regards to the Valmiki Development Board scam, apart from allegations of farmers' distress, unemployment, reservation issues and corruption in recruitment, he added.

Union Education Minister Pralhad Joshi will inaugurate the 200km foot march in Raichur, Vijayendra said, adding that the JD(S) would extend "complete support" to the padayatra, with its leaders expected to attend the inauguration and concluding programmes. 

In 2010, Ballari was the centre of a political storm as Siddaramaiah led the massive ‘Ballari Challo’ protest against the then-BJP government, targeting the Reddy brothers – G Karunakara, G Janardhana, and G Somashekara – over alleged rampant illegal mining. The march weakened the political influence of the powerful politicians.  

Now, Vijayendra said one of the core tenants of the march was to demand the resignation of Ballari MLA Nagendra.