——–S. A. Hemanth——-
Bengaluru, March 20: The BJP is leaving no stone unturned in its attempt for dalit consolidation and give a Hindu-Muslim dimension to the electoral campaign.
The saffron party is now trying to rope in Pulakeshinagar sitting Congress MLA Akhanda Srinivasamurthy into its fold. A prominent personality from the SC Community, Akhanda’s house was burnt allegedly by a Muslim mob during the riots last year.
By roping in Akhanda Srinivasamurty into party fold, the BJP will have twin-advantages. One, it can consolidate the dalit votes not only in that constituency but also in and around Bangalore. Second, the saffron party can give a Hindu-Muslim twist to the campaign by projecting Akhanda as the ‘victim of the communal carnage perpetrated by jihadi elements’
Both the cards – dalit card as well as Hindu-Muslim card – fits into the BJP bill. In any case, the BJP is traditionally weak in Pulakeshinagar, a constituency predominant of Tamil speaking Scheduled Caste people and Muslim as well as Christian minorities.
It is in this background, as many as 50 BJP workers from Tamil Nadu belonging to Tamil-speaking SC community are moving around Pulakeshinagar constituency for the last 15 days, testing the waters. Their initial report to the party’s state headquarters say that roping in Akhanda Srinivasa Murthy will help the party consolidate the dalits as well as the Hindu votes and also change the texture of election campaigning into Hindu and Muslim.
Based on this preliminary report, the top BJP leadership is making subtle attempts to speak to Akhanda Srinivasamurthy. What could make BJP’s task easy is that Akhanda Srinivasamurty is sulking in Congress as there are strong indications of the party fielding Dr H. C. Mahadevappa, former minister, from Pulakeshinagar.
The JDS, which is heavily banking on Muslim votes throughout the state, is not comfortable in taking Akhanda Srinivasamurthy as he insists on speaking against the Muslim mob that burnt his house.
BJP seems to be the only party for Akhanda Srinivasamurthy and BJP also needs him for its own political and ideological ends.
EOM.
