Mysore : With the Lok Sabha election a month away, BJP formally launched its poll campaign by holding a motorbike rally in city and offering special puja at Sri Chamundeshwari temple atop Chamundi Hill this morning.
The motorbike rally, organised by the NaMo Brigade, was flagged off by journalist Pratap Simha, the BJP candidate for Mysore-Kodagu Lok Sabha seat, at Kote Anjaneyaswamy Temple at the Palace’s North Gate.
More than 300 activists of the NaMo Brigade and BJP members participated in the rally by riding over 150 motorbikes wearing saffron caps, white T-shirts displaying the portrait of Narendra Modi, the Prime Ministerial candidate of BJP and some wearing Modi face masks.
Speaking to press persons, Pratap Simha said, “the voters need not feel that I have arrived at the poll scene late because the speed of performance is more important than the time of arrival.”
“Join me to make BJP victorious and ensure that Modi becomes the Prime Minister,” he urged the party workers and said that at a time when the political leaders shirked to go to the northeastern States, it was Modi who went there and warned China against incursions at the border.
Pratap said that he had shifted with his family to Mysore and would stay here permanently to serve the people of the constituency.
Regarding a query from the scribes about incumbent MP H. Vishwanath’s statement that he would play a friendly match with the BJP candidate, Pratap replied that they did not bear any personal grudge against each other.
When pointed out that the constituency was Chief Minister Siddharamaiah’s home-turf, Pratap refuted it saying that BJP had won twice in the past.
To a question about having differences with former MP C.H. Vijayashankar, a keen contender for the Lok Sabha ticket from BJP, Pratap denied of having any differences and added that he will seek the blessings of all senior leaders.
The motorbike rally passed through Harsha Road, Shivaji Road, Five Light circle, Ashoka Road, Irwin Road, J.K. Grounds road, 101 Ganesha temple road, JLB road and Urs road, culminating at Chamundi Hill via Kurubarahalli, where they offered puja.
BJP Mysore District President Hemanth Kumar, City President Maruti Rao Pawar, Yashaswini Somashekhar, advocate O. Sham Bhat and others were present.
BJP candidate Pratap Simha is seen astride a Bullet motorbike during the NaMo Brigade’s motorbike rally in city this morning.