Mangaluru: As the time for the Zilla Panchayat and Taluk Panchayat elections draw near, the district unit of BJP headed by local MP Nalin Kumar Kateel is gearing up for a padayatra against Yettinahole project!
The padayatra from Mangaluru to Yettinahole is scheduled to be held from October 10 to 13 and hundreds of BJP workers are expected to participate in this event. There are allegations that rather than seriously attempt to stop the project, BJP is trying to encash the sentiments of the people in the forthcoming ZP-TP elections.
Leaders within the saffron party agree that the padayatra will surely help BJP get a few extra seats than it gained in the last elections.
BJP has won 24 members out of 35 in DK Zilla panchayat. Similar is the case in many taluk panchayats where BJP has majority.
This year the number of wards in ZP and TP are expected to increase and BJP is concentrating on increasing its seats in the Zilla Panchayat. It also wants to continue its hold in Taluk Panchayats and Yettinahole could be the best issue to encash for BJP in this election.
“As we are taking up an issue that is harmful for the people, the party will naturally reap the benefits,” a senior BJP leader told Deccan Chronicle. “Yettinahole project is harmful for the people and thus we are opposing it and organising the padayatra. In the last ZP election we won 24 seats. This year we will retain the seats. Also Yettinahole issue and padayatra could fetch us an additional 2 to 3 seats. Padayatra is just the beginning, we will have other programmes too,” he said.
He denies allegations that the project was started by D.V. Sadananda Gowda as the Chief Minister. “Netravati diversion project report by Paramashivayya was prepared when Congress was in power. DVS had just reserved money in the budget for study report to see if the project was viable. Where was the urgency for Congress to release the money and start the work? It was Congress leaders who started the work,” he alleged. He added that the silence of Congress MLAs and Ministers of Dakshina Kannada could be added benefit for the party. Though activists are unhappy about BJP encashing the anti Yettinahole movement, they are silent as it could adversely affect the fight.
“We are concerned that BJP is trying to encash the issue for election. But we are unable to speak now as it could harm the movement. Thus we are silent now,” an activist said.
