On Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a 26-km roadshow in Bengaluru as part of his campaign for the upcoming Karnataka assembly elections. The roadshow, which started at Someshwar Bhavan RBI Ground in Bengaluru South and ended at Malleshwaram’s Sankey Tank, was met with criticism from the opposition Congress party.
Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh accused Modi of being a “master of distortion” and only caring about his “grand tamasha”, or spectacle, while ignoring the inconvenience caused by the roadshow. Ramesh claimed that ambulances were stuck on the roads due to the chaos caused by the roadshow and called on Modi to cancel the second part of the roadshow scheduled for Sunday.
Modi’s roadshow drew large crowds of supporters, who waved BJP flags and cheered as he passed by in his car. The prime minister also addressed a rally in Bengaluru, where he attacked the Congress party and its leader Rahul Gandhi.
The Karnataka assembly elections, scheduled for May 12, are seen as a crucial test for both the BJP and the Congress. The BJP is hoping to retain power in the state, while the Congress is looking to make a comeback.
The roadshow was not without controversy, as Modi’s critics accused him of violating the model code of conduct by using government machinery for campaigning. The Election Commission of India has ordered an inquiry into the matter.
Meanwhile, the BJP defended Modi’s roadshow, saying that it was a “massive show of strength” and a reflection of the prime minister’s popularity. BJP leader Sambit Patra accused the Congress of being “anti-development” and said that the party was resorting to “cheap tactics” to win the election.
The roadshow also drew criticism on social media, with many users sharing photos and videos of the traffic congestion caused by the event. Some users accused Modi of putting his own political interests ahead of the public’s welfare.
Despite the criticism, Modi’s roadshow was seen as a major event in the run-up to the Karnataka assembly elections. The prime minister is expected to campaign extensively in the state over the next few days, as both the BJP and the Congress make a final push to win over voters.
As the election approaches, tensions are running high between the two parties, with both sides accusing each other of using unethical tactics to win. The outcome of the Karnataka assembly elections is likely to have significant implications for the 2019 general elections, with both the BJP and the Congress hoping to gain momentum ahead of the national polls.
