Call it a bad omen, but the ruling BJP's big inauguration for the 2013 assembly polls in Karnataka turned out a flop show on Monday.
The two big names had already refused to attend the event – Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi and party veteran LK Advani – given the challenge the BJP faces to retain power in the state.
But party national president Rajnath Singh, and senior leaders Arun Jaitely and Sushma Swaraj, who had promised to come, failed to make it due to technical problems in their aircraft.
Vijay Sankalp rally in Bangalore was finally attended solely by state leaders - including chief minister Jagadish Shettar and state party president Prahlad Joshi.
Later, Singh also managed to address the party workers through video conference.
But with the odds stacked high against the BJP, the morale booster for the workers fell short of the requirement, a few leaders indicated.
Karnataka leaders lash out at Patil
Mumbai/Bangalore: Maharashtra home minister RR Patil's remark about making Karnataka dance to its tunes drew angry reactions from politicians on Monday. Reacting to Patil's comments, former Karnataka CM and JD(S) state president HD Kumaraswamy demanded that he be sacked, state BJP spokesman S Prakash said the comment was "irresponsible" and senior Congress leader Jayaprakash Hegde said Patil should not "interfere in the affairs of Karnataka".
'Shettar is K'taka CM candidate'
New Delhi: Karnataka CM Jagadish Shettar will be the BJP's chief ministerial candidate in the Karnataka polls, Rajnath Singh said on Monday. Saying that none involved in corruption would be spared, Singh also said that both Narendra Modi and LK Advani would campaign in the state in the coming polls.
'Shettar is K'taka CM candidate'
New Delhi: Karnataka CM Jagadish Shettar will be the BJP's chief ministerial candidate in the Karnataka polls, Rajnath Singh said on Monday. Saying that none involved in corruption would be spared, Singh also said that both Narendra Modi and LK Advani would campaign in the state in the coming polls.