Here is the BJP strategy to undermine the 'Women's Wall': smother the January 1 'wall' with high-profile hyperactive events on either sides of the day. Simultaneously, the party will also attempt to pull at least a bit of the 'renaissance' glow to itself.
It is felt that the CPM is running away with the renaissance argument. The BJP, during a meeting of office-bearers held on December 19, has decided to counter Pinarayi Vijayan's renaissance claims by speaking of the RSS role in the state's 'spiritual renaissance'. The foundational logic of the party's new argument would be: “There was no political renaissance in the state, only spiritual renaissance.” It has already included RSS idealogue and Bharatiya Vichara Kendra director P Parameshwaran in the pantheon of renaissance leaders along with Sree Narayana Guru, Chattambi Swamikal, Ayyankali, K Kelappan and P Krishnapillai.
However, belittling the 'women's wall' will be the priority. First, there will be the 'Ayyappa Jyothi' event on December 26, when lamps will be lighted along select national highway stretches in the state. The BJP, in a clear taunt, has publicly invited chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan for the event.
Four days later on December 30, the Sangh Parivar will organise 'Ayyappa Sadassu' (Ayyappa congregations) in all the 140 constituencies. “In the run up to these gatherings we will get signatures of support from prominent CPM and Congress leaders at the local level,” BJP spokesperson B Gopalakrishnan said. “Many in both these parties are already in touch with us,” he added.
On December 31, on the day before the 'Wall', BJP national president Amit Shah will land in Palakkad. The party's campaign mechanism is expected to be made battle-ready with Shah's visit. The BJP president will hold what has been called a “brainstorming” session with 'Shakthi Kendra' in-charges of six Assembly constituencies, namely Chalakkudy, Thrissur, Malappuram, Ponnani, Palakkad and Alathur. (Shakthi Kendra is party jargon for areas within a constituency considered pro-BJP, and each Kendra will be a collective of four to five booths.) Significantly, Shah will also be coming with an aggressive tactic to counter the 'Wall' the LDF hopes to construct the very next day.
After the 'Wall' on January 1, prime minister Narendra Modi himself will fly down to Kerala, not once but twice. If at all some political gains accrue to the Left by way of the 'Wall', the BJP hopes it would be blown away by the personality of Narendra Modi. On January 6, Modi will come to Pathanamthitta, the epicentre of Sabarimala agitation. The plan is to use the Ayyappa emotion to the hilt. “We will officially begin our campaign by touching the feet of the Lord. The prime minister will inaugurate the start of our Lok Sabha campaign,” Gopalakrishnan said.
There is another reason why Modi has scheduled his January 6 visit. On January 8 and 9, the central trade unions will organise a nationwide strike against what has been termed the "pro-corporate and anti-poor" policies of the Modi government. "The prime minister will expose the hollowness of the national strike. He will list out various measures the NDA had put in place for workers, including the increase in minimum wage and gratuity," Gopalakrishnan said.
On January 27, the prime minister will return to Kerala. This time to Thrissur, to address the annual state conference of Bharatiya Yuva Morcha. This sudden BJP interest in Kerala is a clear sign that the party has turned its sights to the South after the losses in the North.
