After threatening to take his fight into Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan's hometown, BJP president Amit Shah on Thursday failed to turn up in Kannur to lead a state-wide yatra he had kicked off two days earlier.
However, hundreds of BJP activists marched through Pinarayi town waving party flags and shouting slogans on the third day of the 'janaraksha yatra' that is meant to highlight CPI(M) "atrocities" on BJP and RSS cadres.
The BJP said Shah had been called to Delhi by Prime Minister Naredra Modi. But the CPI(M) alleged he was scared of foraying into CPI(M) stronghold Pinarayi town, where a Marxist-sponsored 'bandh' led to the closure of most shops.
CPI(M) state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan said Shah was scared to walk through Pinarayi.
"BJP leaders had claimed that Shah was a 'lion' and a determined person. But today it is proved that Shah is a lion without any teeth. Also, Shah has realized the yatra has failed to evoke any response," he said.
In Shah's absence, the protest was led by state BJP president Kummanem Rajasekheran, who said he himself was enough to take the battle into the chief minister's hometown and that Shah's presence was not necessary.
Shah had walked on Tuesday from Payanur in Kannur district with a huge crowd of BJP activists and promised to return on Thursday.
The earlier plan was that Shah would walk nine kilometres on Thursday and address a public meeting at Tellichery.
The Kerala-wide campaign, a show of strength by the BJP and RSS, is to end on October 17 in the state capital.
The CPI(M), which heads Kerala's ruling Left Democratic Front, on Thursday observed a shutdown in Pinarayi town.
All through the route of the BJP 'yatra' in and around Pinarayi, the CPI(M) put up pictures of its members alleged murdered by the BJP and RSS activists.
Several pictures of Vijayan also came up along the route.
A BJP spokesperson told IANS that the 'yatra' passed Pinarayi town on Thursday. And though shops remained closed in the area, there was a "good crowd turnout", the spokesperson said.
