In Mangaluru, who's who to meet Amit Shah

Mangaluru: In a change of strategy , BJP president Amit Shah has decided not to address a rally in Mangaluru but have a tete- a- tete with professionals and opinion makers of the coastal city in the run-up to the assembly polls that are now only months away. 

Mr Shah, who will arrive in Mangaluru on Wednesday after his tour of Kerala on Tuesday, is expected to speak to doctors, engineers, and other elite in an attempt to sway public opinion the party’s way, reveal BJP sources  

“This is an important meeting. The elite and respected citizens, who are not with BJP,  but are inclined towards it and  have the ability to  impact public opinion, are being invited to the meet,” they said and added that district BJP leaders had visited the selected individuals  to invite them.

“These invitees are bound to feel happy if the president of a party addresses them. Mr Shah will explain the ideas and the work the party has done and we expect the invitees to convey this to people they know and create public opinion favourable to the party. We are sure  this meeting will help us. Even if some percentage of the  audience is happy with Mr Shah's message, it will have a positive impact,” said a BJP leader.

BSY: Cong targeting Sangh parivar

 Accusing the Congress of targeting the Sangh Parivar, BJP state chief B.S.Yeddyurappa on Monday said Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had resorted to the “cowardly act” of arresting a senior functionary of the Hindu Jagarana Vedike on a non-issue and had created strong resentment among the people against the Congress government in the process.

Also hitting out at Social Welfare Minister, H.Anjaneya for his critical comments on the Ayudha Pooja at the Vidhana Soudha, he said, the Minister had no right to hurt the feelings of the people, who did religious rituals with great devotion. “Mr. Anjaneya has done  great disservice to the people he represents. Does he mean to say that all those who did Ayudha Pooja at the state secretariat in the past were wrong? This unneccessary and anti-people statement smacks of arrogance,” he contended.

Ridiculing Mr. Siddaramaiah’s claim that he would continue as Chief Minister following the 2018 elections to the state assembly and perform the Dasara pooja once again next year, Mr Yeddyurappa maintained that the people had to decided to defeat the Congress “lock, stock and barrel” in  the coming polls and bring the BJP back to power with a comfortable majority.

"The BJP has earned the goodwill and trust of the people. We have God's blessings. It is certain that we will come to power and perform the Dasara pooja on a grand scale next year,”  he asserted.