The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday, 1 September launched its 10-day 'Ballari Chalo' padyatra from Lingasugur in Raichur district, Karnataka, with former Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa declaring that the party's agitation would not cease until the state government is removed from power. The march, inaugurated with the singing of the farmers' anthem, is being led by BJP Karnataka state president B.Y. Vijayendra.

Yediyurappa's Opening Salvo

Describing the padyatra as a 'trumpet call' for the aspirations of six crore Kannadigas, Yediyurappa framed the march as the opening move in a sustained political campaign. 'The agitation will continue until this government, which is riding high on power, is anti-farmer, anti-people, anti-development, anti-women and steeped in corruption, is removed,' he said. He was emphatic that the event was not an election rally but the beginning of what he called a 'struggle with resolve.'

Yediyurappa also trained his sights on Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, questioning his autonomy. He alleged that Shivakumar had to travel to Delhi and 'hold Rahul Gandhi's feet' for every decision, asking: 'Are you really the Chief Minister? Does this bring dignity to the post of Chief Minister?'

Key BJP Leaders Pile On

Former Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai signalled that the padyatra was only the first in a series of planned agitations across Karnataka. Former Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar credited BJP protests with forcing former minister B. Nagendra to resign, calling it a vindication of the party's street strategy. Shettar also alleged that the Congress Cabinet was fractured into D.K. Shivakumar, Siddaramaiah, and high-command factions.

BJP co-in-charge Sudhakar Reddy described the state government as 'anti-Dalit, anti-farmer, anti-ST and anti-women,' while Legislative Council Opposition Leader Chalavadi Narayanaswamy alleged that funds received from the Centre for toilet construction had been misappropriated.

Drought and Governance Allegations

Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council R. Ashoka alleged that while 175 taluks were facing drought conditions, the government had officially declared only 101 taluks drought-hit. 'Declare the remaining taluks as drought-hit, or people will declare your government bankrupt,' Ashoka said. Former minister B. Sriramulu alleged that corruption had worsened, law and order had deteriorated, and farmers were being forced to migrate.

Former minister C.T. Ravi alleged that money reportedly looted from the Valmiki Corporation had not been returned to the treasury, linking Nagendra's resignation to broader financial irregularities. Former minister Janardhana Reddy demanded an allocation of ₹20,000 crore for the construction of the Navali reservoir and claimed the BJP would return to power in 2028.

The Route and What Comes Next

The padyatra will proceed from Lingasugur to Ballari over 10 days, with MLA Manappa Vajjal stating its aim is to expose alleged irregularities, scams, and governance failures before the public. BJP state general secretary P. Rajeev alleged the government had acted unfairly in declaring drought-affected areas and failed to provide adequate relief. With Bommai promising a 'step-by-step' series of agitations on multiple issues, the BJP appears to be building toward a sustained opposition campaign ahead of the 2028 Karnataka assembly elections.