S. A. Hemanth
Bengaluru, April 22: Union Home Minister Amit Shah is believed to have brought some sanity in the thinking of his party’s state leaders on the contentious “Lingayath as CM” issue.
During the review of the poll preparedness of the state BJP, Shah asked the views of the state leaders about the Lingayath issue. A few leaders are believed to have told the Union Home Minister that the party must declare a Lingayath as Chief Minister candidate “in order to retain the Lingayath votes”
In his inimitable style, Shah deeply looked into the eyes of those people who made this suggestion. He calmly posed a question. “What will happen if non-Lingayaths consolidate themselves against the BJP for having projected a Lingayath as CM?” There was a thunderous silence in the hall. Nobody dare to speak.
Then he spoke slowly but with determination and clarity. “Chief Ministerial candidate is not projected on the basis of caste. There is a risk of antagonizing other communities. A mass leader having that broad perspective and acceptability among the masses is projected. As of now, our thrust and focus should be in asserting that the BJP has not meted out injustice to the Lingayaths and BJP government headed by B. S. Yediyurappa and Basavaraj Bommai have taken care of the interests of all communities including Lingayaths. This should be our stance.”
Amit Shah also told the state leadership to aggressively campaign against Jagadish Shetter, Lakshman Savadi and Ayanur Manjunath as “great betrayers” who derived and enjoyed all benefits from the party but later betrayed. “We should hammer them strongly and powerfully by describing all the three leaders as betrayers,” the Union Home minister added.
It was only after the discussion was held in a cool and calm atmosphere where Amit Shah brought in sanity and clarity among the state leaders there was a sigh of relief. “We are now clear about what we need to do and how to go about against the three betrayers,” one of the participant told The Newz Peg.
EOM.
