Bengaluru: Ahead of the Lok Sabha elections in Karnataka, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has unveiled a formidable lineup of star campaigners, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and BJP National President J.P. Nadda. Joining them are Union Ministers Rajnath Singh, Nirmala Sitharaman, S. Jaishankar, Smriti Irani, and Nitin Gadkari, forming a prominent roster of 40 star campaigners for the state.
The candidate list, released by the Karnataka BJP unit, features a notable assembly of leaders, including 10 Union Ministers, Chief Ministers from three states, and esteemed state leaders. Interestingly, senior BJP figures in the state, who were not nominated as candidates for the Lok Sabha election, have also been designated as star campaigners.
These campaigners are poised to engage in a series of meetings, conventions, and roadshows across Karnataka, lending their support to BJP’s electoral endeavors. Notable names in the star campaigner list extend beyond Karnataka, encompassing figures like Tamil Nadu BJP President K. Annamalai, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, among others.
Furthermore, individuals who were denied tickets, including former Chief Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda and BJP MP Pratap Simha, have been enlisted as star campaigners, underscoring the party’s concerted effort to galvanize support.
Of particular interest is the inclusion of BJP MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal, known for his outspoken views and recent criticisms of Karnataka BJP President B.Y. Vijayendra and former Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa.
Other prominent names featured in the star campaigner list include B.S. Yediyurappa, B.Y. Vijayendra, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi, Leader of Opposition R. Ashoka, and former Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar, among several others, ensuring a formidable presence on the campaign trail.