Raipur, Sep 17 (IANS) With assembly polls due next year, Chhattisgarh’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is hoping to cash in on the embarrassment to the Congress-led central government, which has withdrawn in the Supreme Court its affidavit questioning Lord Ram’s existence.
Top state BJP leaders held a core committee meeting here Sunday night.
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh, BJP national secretary in-charge of the state Dharmendra Pradhan, state party president Vishnudeo Sai debated the matter along with about a dozen other top politicians of affiliated outfits.
“Though the central government has made its best effort to repair the damage by filing a supplementary affidavit, removing the controversial portions, the damage was so severe that it could heavily boost the BJP’s poll fortunes, mainly in areas dominated by the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes,” a senior BJP leader who attended the meet told IANS, declining to be named.
The BJP has been opposing the Sethusamudram canal off the Tami Nadu coast, saying it will damage the Ram Sethu – or Adam’s Bridge – revered by Hindus.The central government, which initially submitted an affidavit questioning the historical existence of Lord Ram, hastily withdrew it as a political faux pas.
“The Congress’ recent blunder can be a big bonus in 34 seats reserved for the Scheduled Tribes and in 10 seats reserved for the Scheduled Caste candidates as illiterate voters are in dominance there, and these votes can be managed for the party with this issue,” the BJP leader said.
“The Congress will not be able to get out of the affidavit blunder over Lord Ram. The party will pay heavily in the next elections in Chhattisgarh – provided our leaders use the issue tactically,” he said.
The source said the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and affiliated outfits like the Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram would help highlight the Congress blunder in remote areas of the state.
The Congress was defeated by the BJP in the state’s maiden assembly polls in December 2003.