Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) national president Amit Shah gave the Bheem Mahasangam Vijay Sankalp rally organised by the Delhi unit here at Ramlila Maidan, a miss on Sunday. The programme was an outreach exercise by the local BJP to the Dalit votebank ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. BJP MP and National Chairman of the All India Confederation of SC/ST Organisations Dr Udit Raj was also conspicuous by his absence at the political event.

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Shah was supposed to be the chief guest and address people at the function which was touted by Delhi BJP president Manoj Tiwari as an event aimed to "spread positivity and harmony". The actor turned politician had been publicising the Bheem Mahakumbh as an "Amit Shah rally". He, on the other hand, was visiting Silvassa for a booth workers' meet on Sunday.

The Bheem Mahasangam was also seen as Tiwari's show of strength in front of the national leadership after the Purvanchali Mahakumbh in September which was attended by the national head and from where the party sounded its bugle for upcoming Assembly elections. The BJP MP had hoped to once again showcase to the top leaders that he had sizeable influence on people not only from his home turf(the purvanchalis)but also on those from backward classes.

While Delhi BJP leaders emphasised that there was nothing to read between the lines with both Shah and Raj skipping the event, in fighting in the local unit has spilled out in the open many a times. Senior members have sparred over various issues like sealing, lack of support by traders, media coverage among others. Monthly party meetings in the recent past have witnessed ugly scenes and heated arguments, exposing the chinks in Delhi BJP's armour.

Meanwhile, addressing people at the rally, Tiwari said, "Three lakh people contributed rice and dal for the khichdi happily and willingly. If they were not satisfied with the Modi government, they would not have participated. This is proof that they want to bring him back in power. Tiwari also denied the event to be a political one, saying that Bheem Mahasangam was a message to all the parties to end divisive politics.

BOND BUILDING

  • The function was touted by Delhi BJP president Manoj Tiwari as an event aimed to spread positivity and harmony   
  • The programme was an outreach exercise by the local BJP to the Dalit votebank ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.  
  • Nagpur based chef Vishnu Manohar was roped in