BELAGAVI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is visiting Belagavi on February 27 to inaugurate the redeveloped railway station and hold a road show. He will also launch the second instalment of the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi amount from Belagavi. Later, he will leave for Shivamogga to inaugurate the new airport.
Prior to his visit, a preparatory meeting was held at a resort in Belagavi, under the leadership of BJP MLC Keshavprasad, who is in charge of the programmes.
Interestingly, two former ministers of the BJP, Former Deputy Chief Minister Laxman Savadi and former Water Resources Minister Ramesh Jarkiholi, who were known to have a running political feud earlier, shared the stage at the preparatory meeting in a show of unity. Leaders from Belagavi and Chikkodi, MP Annasaheb Jolle, Mangala Angadi, Iranna Kadadi, MLAs Abhay Patel, Anil Benake, Mahantesh Doddagoudar, Duryodhan Mahalingappa Aihole and several others participated in the meeting.
The development has created intrigue in political circles with people speculating whether Laxman Savadi and Ramesh Jarkiholi had given up their past political rivalry or whether they were just putting up a show in front of other BJP leaders. There was also speculation whether the newfound camaraderie will last only till the Assembly election.
The party leaders discussed arrangements for mobilising crowds and BJP activists for the public meeting, planning a grand roadshow of Modi among others.