Angered by the murder of some BJP and RSS workers in Dakshina Kannada, the saffron party is hoping to take on the ruling Congress in the state over its ‘appeasement’ politics in the run-up to the 2018 assembly poll. As part of its strategy it has decided to invite BJP national president, Amit Shah to address a public meeting in Mangaluru during his two – day visit to neighbouring Kerala in October.
BJP leaders from the state reportedly came up with the idea during the core committee meeting of the party held at Union Minister for Human Resource Development, Prakash Javadekar’s home in Delhi on Sunday. They are said to have explained that having Mr. Shah address a public meeting in Mangaluru could help the party polarise voters in the coastal district, which has seen murders like the one of RSS worker, Sharath Madivala in Bantwal.
As Mr. Shah is expected to go on padayatra in Kerala on October 3 and 5, the BJP leaders suggested he should tour the coastal district on October 4. But the party’s central leadership has still to take a call on this, according to sources.
Referring to the differences between state BJP chief, B S Yeddyurappa and party organising joint secretary, Santhosh, Mr. Javadekar is said to have sternly instructed part leaders to stop such internal matters from being leaked to the media. He also wanted feedback on the party’s preparations for its Parivarthana rally on November 2 in the state, going by sources.
