Thiruvananthapuram: The BJP yatra, from October 3 to 17, will be strong both in optics and the content of the message as a horde of national leaders, led by president Amit Shah, will seek to expose the “CPM’s murderous politics and its hegemony, preventing free and fair political work for other parties in the State”. Former BJP State president P. S. Sreedharan Pillai says the main purpose of the yatra will be to disabuse the CPM of its notions party work in a democratic set-up, which is marked by arrogance. The yatra will traverse CPM’s ‘party villages’, which arguably will be a source of consolation for other parties, including the CPI.
Mr Shah’s ability to carry allies along has resulted in ensuring the sulking BDJS in the pro-rally functions. The latter has been offered plum posts in quasi-government agencies. Mr Shah had asked the State leaders to ensure that the yatra helps them emerge from the shadow of the medical college scam, which was why the rally was deferred from the original September 7 launch. Mr Pillai, leading the BJP campaign in by-poll-bound Vengara in Malappuram, said so far Kannur has been dominated by CPM’s constitution and red flag rather than the Indian Constitution and the national flag. “Such is the blind faith of the CPM leaders and cadre in the party”, he said.
He says Kannur has more than 100 party villages. The yatra will help political parties, not just the BJP, to carry on political work without fear. BJP and RSS leaders admit they also have party strongholds in Pathayakunnu in Panur, Thalassery, Thokkilangadi in Koothuparamba, Mattannur and Kathiroor, which are being sheltered as a counter to the CPM. RSS State secretary P. Gopalankutty Master told DC that it was during the 60’s the CPM made inroads in Kannur because Congress failed to retaliate against targeted attacks on its members. “We do not have any party villages in Kannur district. Once the RSS came in to being, we started challenging the CPM as Congress has always been a meek player”.
