Belgaum: Sri Ram Sene founder Pramod Muthalik to join BJP?

Daijiworld Media Network – Belgaum (SP)

Belgaum, Mar 22: There is information that behind-the-scene parleys are on for bringing founder president of Sri Ram Sene, and former convener of Bajrang Dal in southern states, Pramod Muthalik, into the BJP. In all possibility, Muthalik, a staunch pro-Hindutva protagonist, may also be fielded as a BJP candidate from Belgaum (north) constituency in the ensuing election, it is learnt.

It is said that both Sri Vishweshateertha Swamiji of Pejavar Math, and senior BJP leader, Uma Bharti, had taken avid interest in this exercise. While Pejawar Swamiji, with whom Mutalik reportedly has close association, talked with the Sangh Parivar and BJP leaders about the desirability of bringing Muthalik into BJP, Uma Bharti, who took up the issue with the central leadership, convinced them about the fact that Sri Ram Sene has a strong presence in several constituencies in Karnataka, and that its support can be crucial in Belgaum, Bijapur, Gulbarga, Dharwad, Chikmagalur, Uttara Kannada, Udupi, and Dakshina Kannada districts.

In Belgaum, the voters are mainly divided on the basis of their mother tongues, Kannada and Marathi, as evidenced in successive elections. However, the BJP and Sangh Parivar leaders feel that Mutalik’s entry can tilt the scales, as the people will come together under the Hindutva plank, rather than their mother tongues. The leaders feel that it would be easier to defeat sitting Congress MLA, Feroz Sait, if Muthalik is fielded against him. They also have analyzed that BJP will benefit from this move in other parts of the district as well as the neighbouring districts.

Muthalik himself confirmed that talks about his admission into BJP are on with BJP top leadership and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh leaders, and that he intends to fight the assembly election from Belgaum (north) constituency.

The fact that Prahlad Joshi, who hails from Sangh Parivar, has been made the state BJP president, will make it easy for Muthalik’s admission, it is said. Joshi, who has a clean image, oratory skills, and organizational capabilities, is likely to make the process a smooth affair, as he is close to Muthalik. The uncertainty on this issue is likely to be cleared in a couple of days, it is expected.