The Bharatiya Janata Party is likely to take out its Kerala Raksha Yatra from October 3 to 18.
The national leadership is learnt to have tentatively decided to launch its anti-CPI(M) campaign with the launch of the yatra from the first fortnight of October itself, without waiting for the State unit to plug its organisational lapses.
Sources privy to the discussions told The Hindu that the national leaders were in no mood to wait till the State unit set its house in order and was keen on having its way at the earliest.
But the State organisational machinery continues to be in disarray and most leaders are apprehensive about the possibility of mobilising cadres for the yatra, which is expected to parade an array of national leaders at different stages.
The leaders are aware that even a minor organisational slip will prove costly and erode the Centre’s confidence in the State unit.
Bribery scam
The ongoing Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau probe into the medical college bribery scam involving top State leaders is troubling the leadership and reaching out to the cadres at this juncture for new programmes will not be easy. Sustaining the tempo of the campaign post-yatra till the next Lok Sabha elections is felt to be even more challenging.
The national leaders are reported to be keen on having the National Democratic Alliance allies also for the yatra.
The alliance partners, mainly the Bharat Dharma Jana Sena, are sore over the functioning of the BJP and had openly accused it of being dictatorial. On getting a firm direction from the Centre, the State BJP leaders will have to coax the allies also to be part of the campaign.
President Amit Shah may not be able to spring surprises by luring prominent leaders from other parties for the time being as expected earlier.
Given the current crisis in the State BJP, the proposed campaign may not have the desired impact and the party will have to launch a fresh drive ahead of the Lok Sabha elections for making an impressive performance, the sources said.
