Ballari, Sept. 4 -- The BJP-JDS padayatra led by BJP state president Vijayendra Yediyurappa entered its fourth day on Thursday, but the Congress government sought to seize the political initiative by approving a plan to unveil a statue of Maharshi Valmiki in Ballari, turning the Opposition's campaign into a fresh contest over the Valmiki community's long-pending demands.
The Congress' move comes as the BJP-JDS combine is marching through the Ballari region to attack the State government on a range of issues and mobilise public support against it.
The State Cabinet has approved the proposal for unveiling the Valmiki statue in Ballari, with Chief Minister D K Shivakumar likely to inaugurate it, according to sources.
The statue has been a l...