Pramod Mutalik to take plunge into politics, may contest this Assembly election
- Pramod Mutalik heads the Sri Ram Sene that was infamously involved in the Mangaluru Pub attack in 2009
- The Sene had been the supporter of BJP in earlier elections as it shares the Hindutva ideology of the Sene
- The Sene is yet to name its political party
FollowControversial Sri Ram Sene leader Pramod Mutalik who wears Hindutva on his sleeves is planning to take an active plunge into politics by forming his own political party. Mutalik is reportedly busy holding back-to-back closed door meetings with the Sene members in Dharwad, Haveri and Gadag districts and is expected to field candidates in 24 constituencies of the state.
Mutalik told Kannada Prabha that the Sri Ram Sene had been supporting the Saffron party so far. Of late the BJP which came to power on the Hindutva agenda at the Centre is deviating from the issues concerning the Hindus. "This has upset me. This forced me to think of a political outfit that reflects the ideologies and the beliefs of the Sri Ram Sene," Mutalik told Kannada Prabha. However, he has not yet decided on the name of the party.
"We have already surveyed the state at least six times. The Sri Ram Sene is confident that it is strong in at least 24 constituencies and we are planning to field candidates in these places," Mutalik told Kannada Prabha.
Meanwhile, BJP MP Prahlad Joshi told Kannada Prabha that the BJP is determined to make this country, a Congress-free nation. If Sene headed by Mutalik wants to join the BJP, he would be extended support. The party had assured him of this support, earlier too. But if he wants to go ahead and contest on his own, the BJP would fight him in the elections."
Mutalik so far has come to identify himself to be as one of the torchbearers of Hindutva ideologies. His acerbic speeches that have on many occasions instigated communal violence are there for everyone to see. However, he shot to limelight after the pub attack in Mangaluru (2009) where girls were attacked by the so-called custodians of Hindu culture, Sene members. Mutalik had infamously claimed that "We are the custodians of the Indian culture."
