Bengaluru: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address a mammoth gathering at Kalaburugi city, which is considered as the strong bastion of senior Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge. He will address a rally in the afternoon at 3 pm.

Former DCM R Ashok has been appointed as the party in charge for the rally. He held a preliminary meeting on Sunday evening along with senior party leaders from the district including Malikayya Guttedar, Baburao Chinchanasur etc.

According to the sources, Chincholi MLA, Congress rebel leader Umesh Jadhav is expected to join the party in front of Modi. He will be the BJP candidate against Kharge, who is facing stiff resistance from the local Congress leaders due to the elevation of his son Priyanka Kharge in the district.

Speaking to the reporters after the meeting, R Ashok informed that party will use the rally as the launch pad for the upcoming Lok Sabha election.

He blamed the former CM Siddaramaiah for the present political crisis and added that he is the person behind the Operation Kamala rumours. “He is trying to take control of the government using the BJP and rebel Congress MLAs,” he charged.