The recent incidents of sexual assault, law and order failure and denotification of Arkavathi Layout land in Bangalore, have not just caused concern among the people, but have given an opportunity for the Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party to flex its muscles.
The BJP, which improved its political position in the State by riding on the Narendra Modi wave in the Lok Sabha polls after its disastrous performance in the Assembly elections, is now planning to consolidate its position by launching a campaign on these issues at the grassroots level.
The approach of the party, which has been holding vigorous protests on these issues, suggests that it is trying to build up a tempo and activate its cadre to use these issues ahead of the panchayat and the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike elections to be held in eight to nine months from now.
In fact, party leaders had attacked the government over its alleged law and order failure at an executive committee meeting held in Bangalore recently to launch its preparations for the BBMP polls.
Meeting today
It will hold a meeting of its State office-bearers and presidents and general secretaries of district units on Wednesday in Bangalore, to chalk out a plan of action to take these issues to the grassroots. The party is at present focussing on the denotification issue as it directly relates to the role of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. Seeking a CBI probe, the party is also holding a State-level protest on Thursday.
The fact that the BJP has set its eyes on the panchayat polls was visible when it recently held a protest rally here against the delay in release of funds for the construction of Ashraya houses for the rural poor.
Though panchayat elections are held on an apolitical basis, political parties have been backing their candidates in these polls to create a grassroots-level cadre for their organisations. The BJP does not want to lag behind in this.
(The Hindu)
