Thiruvananthapuram: BJP national president Amit Shah has conveyed to the state BJP leadership that finally the state is becoming conducive for the BJP post the Sabarimala issue. Mr Shah has urged them to cash in on the situation towards the run up to Lok Sabha elections. BJP state president P. S. Sreedharan Pillai will lead his Rath Yatra from Kasaragod to Pathanamthitta during November 8-12.
It was Amit Shah's idea to call out "Swamiye, Sharanam" at the end of his public speech deviating from the usual "Vande Mataram" after inaugurating the BJP district headquarters. The core committee meeting of the state BJP leadership was held at Kannur late on Friday where it was decided to lead a Rath Yatra, as per the directive of the Amit Shah. When the Rath Yatra concludes at Pathan-amthitta on November 12, it will see 50, 000 women protestors convening against the state government's ha-sty attitude in implementing the Supreme Court verdict on Sabarimala. The top court is to consider the review petitions and writ petitions on the next day.
"Once the Mandala - Makaravilakku season starts on November 17, BJP has decided to intensify the agitation where a joint protest from all the five South Indian states would happen on the Sabari-mala issue," said a top BJP leader to DC.
If the BJP receives a setback at the Supreme Court, they will go ahead with the protest demanding that an ordinance should be brought in.
Meanwhile, former Devaswom Board president and KPCC executive member G. Raman Nair, former ISRO chairman G. Madha-van Nair, former JD (S) vice-president Karakulam Divakaran Nair, former Kerala Women's Commission member Prameela Devi and Malankara church representative Thomas John joined the BJP.
Former DGP T. P. Senkumar also met Amit Shah, but didn't join the party. Representatives of erstwhile Pandalam royal family, P. G. Sasikumar Varma and P. N. Narayana Varma also met Amit Shah at Taj Vivanta here.
Amit Shah will leave for New Delhi on Sunday morning.
