Bangalore : Bharatiya Janata Party’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi will launch his campaign ahead of the 2013 Lok Sabha elections in Karnataka on November 16 in Bangalore.

Modi will address nine rallies in the State between November 16 and January 16. The dates and venue for non-Bangalore rallies are yet to be decided, said BJP campaign committee member Venkaiah Naidu here on Monday.

The rallies of Modi will be attended by L K Advani, Sushma Swaraj and other leaders. The BJP will also be hosting Lok Sabha Constituency-wise meetings concentrating on youth between November 20 and December 15, said Naidu said. The party has also planned a meeting of its lobbyists/benefactors, “Friends of BJP” meetings in the State, besides from the district-wise meeting of the opinion makers including lawyers, ex-servicemen, former IAS/IPS officers, doctors and thinkers.

Naidu, a Rajya Sabha member, accused the Congress party of playing divisive politics, both at the Centre and in the State.

While Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee President G Parameshwara has stated that loans raised by minorities need not be repaid, Law Minister Jayachandra said fast-track courts will be set up for only minorities.

Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde has issued a circular to all State Governments to ensure that no wrongful arrests are made from the minority community in terror cases. “All these moves are being made to appease one section of society and to mask their failure in governance,” said Naidu.

The Shinde circular “is stupid and atrocious.” BJP-ruled states will be asked to throw the circular into dustbins.

Naidu also dismissed the proposed Third Front.

“The Third Front is a mirage. It is a tried and failed attempt. How do you believe parties like the Samajwadi Party and the Trinamool Congress, which makes contradictory statements within hours of their previous decisions. We saw that in the case of the presidential elections,” Naidu added.