If BJP president Amit Shah is expected to add Hindi and Gujarati flavour to the ongoing poll campaign and Union Minister Nitin Gadkari the Marathi touch, the Kannadiga juggernaut is set to roll into the state from Monday, with the State playing host to a large chunk of the Kannadiga vote spread across the State, especially in the major towns.
With an eye on the crucial vote bank, which can make or mar the future of any politician and party, both the BJP and Congress are bracing to rope in star campaigners from the neighbouring state from Monday.
Karnataka former chief minister and a popular leader, B S Yediyurappa will descend in Goa on Monday to address a meeting in North and South Goa at Cortalim, Santa Cruz and Taleigao on Monday, That’s not all. Union Minister from Karnataka Anant Kumar will land in the State on Tuesday to address a planned meeting at Vasco and Mapusa.
Information gathered from the Congress camp revealed that the opposition party is now way behind its ruling counterpart. Senior Congress leader from Karnataka and former union minister, Oscar Fernandes, however, is already in Goa, lending help to the local party bosses.
Party senior vice-president, M K Sheikh told The Goan that the names of a whole lot of star campaigners from Karnataka, including Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Oscar Fernandes, Margaret Alva, Dr Parmeshwar, Shiv Kumar, R V Deshpande, K George, K K Patil and Ashok Patan are expected to land in the State anytime during the campaign.
“The party has shortlisted these names and these have been forwarded to the Election Commission as per the requirements. We expect these leaders from Karnataka to descend in the State during the next 10 days,” Sheikh
Voters from Karnataka comprise a sizeable percentage of the electorate not only in the port town of Vasco, or Santa Cruz, or Cortalim which plays host to the Zuari Nagar slum, but in other constituencies including Margao, Ponda and other towns.
