Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (MS)

Mangaluru, Jan 20: With Karnataka Assembly elections round the corner, the Congress is firing all guns to ensure that it retains its power in the state. Inspired by the party's performance in the recent Gujarat elections where he visited various temples, Rahul Gandhi, president of AIl India Congress Committee (AICC), is going to experiment the same 'soft Hindutva' attitude in the upcoming Karnataka assembly elections too. His tour of the state will begin with visits to the famous Sharada Peetha of Shringeri and Sri Krishna Math of Udupi on February 21 and 22.

Also on the itinerary is a major road show from Mangaluru to Udupi on February 21. As per a tentative schedule, Rahul Gandhi will arrive in Mangaluru from Shringeri, and then proceed in a road show that will pass through Suratkal, Mulky, Kaup, Udupi, Brahmavar and Kundapur.

There will be no public gathering, but sources said that Rahul will hold group discussions with representatives from various fields and listen to their grievances. In Chikkamagaluru, he is scheduled to interact with areca growers. He will also hold discussions with district Congress committees of Mangaluru and Udupi.

It is gathered through reliable sources that Rahul will be visiting the Sri Krishna math on February 20 or 21 and will stay overnight in Udupi. Before visiting Udupi, he will also visit the Shringeri math.

There is definite information in Congress party circles that the constant 'Hindutva' chant of the BJP in coastal and Malnad regions may become a hindrance to their success in the upcoming Assembly elections. Hence the party is of the opinion that if Rahul uses the same ploy of 'temple visits' that was used in the last Gujarat elections, the Congress may get favourable results.

Will Siddaramaiah Visit Sri Krishna Math?

All are curious to know whether chief minister Siddaramaiah, who has constantly avoided visiting the Udupi math since he assumed the office of CM, will visit the Math at least this time with Rahul. Though the CM has visited Udupi for official functions in the past four-and-a-half years, he has never visited the famous Sri Krishna Math.

Rahul, who is relying on his soft Hindutva agenda, has already warned the CM not use any harsh language against Hindus or Hindutva in public.