By P.T. Bopanna
The Kodagu (Coorg) unit of the BJP is in a disarray and there is hardly a suitable candidate in the horizon to take on the formidable challenge posed by Congress MLA A.S. Ponnanna from Virajpet constituency in the 2028 Assembly elections.
In the circumstances, I feel the best option I find for the BJP is to plan a ‘surgical strike’ by para-dropping a candidate from outside the saffron fold.
I find that someone like Lieutenant General Channira Bansi Ponnappa (Retd), fits the bill.
Prime minister Narendra Modi stands for muscular nationalism. By picking a highly decorated officer of the Indian Army to contest as a party candidate from Kodagu (Coorg) district, known for its famous generals, and large concentration of men from the armed forces, the BJP can reach out to the ex-servicemen from across the country.
One may wonder why I zeroed in on General Bansi Ponnappa (in picture), when there are many decorated soldiers from Kodagu.
I happened to meet the General at a function and we exchanged greetings without any formal introduction. Unlike most of the Army officers, who are stiff and straight-laced, Bansi had an easy air about him which is required for an elected leader.
The Modi-Shah duo have not been successful in making a BJP push in south India, mainly because they have no clue. The duo are familiar with the cow-belt politics of northern India.
The BJP which is basically a north Indian party, has to use out of box thinking to win over people in south India.
Having covered politics and elections for several decades as a journalist for newspapers like The Times of India and The Pioneer (Delhi), I am in a position to predict what works for a political party.
Interestingly, there are more businessmen than BJP workers aspiring for Assembly ticket from Virajpet constituency. Kaddaniyanda Harish Bopanna, who was earlier associated with the Congress, spoke to me over the phone and confirmed that he was in the race for Virajpet seat on a BJP ticket.
