A morale booster' response for BJP yatra in Deve Gowda's home turf?

Hassan: The Bharatiya Janata Party, which does not have much of a track record in the district,  claimed on Tuesday that the response to its “Parivarthana Yatra” led by state unit president, B S Yeddyurappa  across Hassan over the last couple of days, had proved a morale booster for its workers.

A Janata Dal (S) secular bastion,  five of the seven legislators from the district  belong to this party, while the other two are from the Congress.

The BJP last won from Hassan district as far back as in 1999.  Minister for Animal Husbandry A Manju had won the election  on its ticket at the time from Arkalgudu before joining the Congress.

Clearly hoping to make an inroad into the home turf of JD(S) supremo, H D Deve Gowda, the party did everything it could to strike a chord with the people during the Parivarthana Yatra in Hassan town on Tuesday, where it arrived after journeying through Arasikere, Belur and Sakleshpur. 

Starting from a private hotel in Hassan town on B. M. Road , the yatra passed through NR Circle, and Salagame Road before culminating at the district stadium where Mr Yeddyurappa addressed a gathering.

Learning from their past mistakes, local leaders of the party were cautious not to waste Mr Yedyurappa’s time with breakfasts and dinners in their  homes and made sure he had enough time to interact with voters. 

One party worker, Yogesh, who is hoping for a ticket from the district,  said the BJP chief  was able to chat with people this time around. “We hope this  will help the prospects of the party in the coming election to the state assembly,” he added.