Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru

Bengaluru, Apr 14: After criticizing Congress government for adopting a pro-Kannada approach to gain an edge in the upcoming polls, BJP has now suddenly taken a u-turn and become Kannada-centric.

From tweeting in Kannada to paying tribute to Kannada icons, BJP leaders seem to be playing the Kannada card, as they have realized that ignoring Kannada in Karnataka could create a negative impact in the upcoming polls.

BJP national president Amit Shah during his latest poll tour in Karnataka has visited Kumaravyasa’s birthplace, D R Bendre’s house, freedom fighters Sangolli Rayanna and Kittur Rani Chennamma memorials in the last two days. Shah during his Shivamoga visit took a helicopter ride to Kuppalli, the birthplace of Kannada poet Kuvepmu during his visit.

Shah has also tweeted a Kannada poem of one of the all-time greats of Kannada literature, D R Bendre who was from Dharwad. Even party election in-charge, ministers Piyul Goel and Prakash Javadekar have also started tweeting in Kannada.

Former chief minister Jagadish Shettar also displayed his love for Kannada and its literature by tweeting a few lines from Kumaravyasa’s ‘Mahabharatha’.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has managed to utter a few words in Kannada and also paid tributes to Kannada icons in his speeches.

Sources reveal that BJP’s pro-Kannada approach is to convince people that they are not an anti-Kannada party. The BJP earlier had blamed Congress for dividing Karnataka on language lines and sentiments, when the state had objected the centre’s imposition of Hindi rule. Some of its leaders on social media handles had criticized activists who were demanding the removal of Hindi signboards from Bengaluru Metro.

The BJP had also opposed Siddaramaiah government’s demand of Kannada flag for the state.

'Election Gimmick'

Chief minister Siddaramaiah called BJP’s new found love for Kannada as an election gimmick and said that the people can see through it.

"Did they not oppose the Kannada flag?" he questioned and added that the state is aware that BJP and RSS has always distanced itself from regional languages, cultures and diversity. "No one will believe them. They are good at fooling people but they have been exposed this time," he added.

Meanwhile, JD(S) state chief H D Kumaraswamy has attacked both the Congress and BJP for using Kannada for the votes. "Both are national parties and will forget Kannada after the elections. Kannadigas should be careful about Delhi people," he told media.