Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to visit Bengaluru on 10 May to attend the 45th-anniversary celebrations of the Art of Living and the 70th birthday of its founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. The visit, his first to Karnataka after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) registered major victories in Assembly elections in West Bengal, Assam, and Puducherry, has prompted large-scale preparations by the state BJP unit.

What Modi Will Do in Bengaluru

According to a press release from the Art of Living ashram, Prime Minister Modi will deliver the keynote address at the anniversary celebrations. He will also inaugurate the newly constructed Dhyan Mandir, a dedicated meditation hall, along with nation-wide service initiatives spanning mental well-being, rural development, nature conservation, and social transformation — all slated as year-long projects. A global meditation for World Peace, led by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, is separately scheduled for 13 May.

BJP's Preparatory Meeting

Leader of the Opposition R. Ashoka chaired a preparatory meeting on Thursday in Bengaluru to plan what the party described as a grand felicitation programme. Among those present were former minister Aravind Limbavali, MLA and former Deputy Chief Minister Ashwath Narayan, former minister Gopalaiah, MLAs S. R. Vishwanath, Muniraju, and C. K. Ramamurthy, State General Secretary Nandish Reddy, and other senior party leaders.

Ashoka said BJP workers from ten Assembly constituencies in Bengaluru Urban district would participate in the Bengaluru event, while workers from constituencies near Tumakuru Road would attend a parallel programme in Chitradurga. "All party workers and members of the public should attend the programme. Meetings have been held to discuss preparations," he said.

Ashoka on Election Results

Speaking to reporters, Ashoka highlighted that the BJP's achievements are recognised globally, noting that even the President of the United States had congratulated Prime Minister Modi. He described the BJP forming a government in West Bengal for the first time as a matter of pride for the party.

On the subject of recent bypoll results, Ashoka cautioned against reading too much into them. "When the BJP was in power, we won 15 by-elections. But later, the BJP did not return to power in the Assembly election. Hence, bypolls are not a standard for predicting Assembly election outcomes," he said.

Significance of the Visit

The 10 May visit carries both cultural and political weight. It is Modi's first Karnataka trip since the NDA's electoral sweep, and the BJP is keen to project the momentum. The Art of Living event provides a non-partisan platform, but the scale of party mobilisation — spanning multiple districts — signals that the BJP intends the occasion to double as a public outreach exercise. The inauguration of the Dhyan Mandir also aligns with the government's broader emphasis on India's spiritual and wellness heritage on the global stage.