Mangaluru: The BJP, which has been utilising the social media much to its advantage way since 2014 elections, effectively used the platform to reach out to people affected by the flash floods in Mangaluru.
Mangaluru South MLA D Vedyas Kamath proactively posted several updates regarding the situation on WhatsApp even though he was away at Bengaluru to participate in the Assembly proceedings. In his very first message, the MLA said that he was aware of the situation back home and that he was coordinating for relief efforts in effort to calm the nervous residents of the city. This was followed by several posts on emergency contact numbers and updates about the situation on hand.
So did other BJP leader MP Nalin Kumar Kateel, Mangaluru North MLA Dr. Bharath Shetty and others by posting regular updates on Facebook. However, their leadership was not just limited to Facebook posts, as they were seen on the ground visiting affected family members, braving rising waters and flooded areas in their wards.
This was much in contrast to what we have now come to expect of our political leaders, that they approach people only during elections.
Despite not forming the government in Karnataka, the BJP party workers have put their best foot forward with this ground work in the constituency.
Speaking to Newskarnataka, MLA Vedavyas Kamath said, “Already I have visited 25 wards and spoken to the people who were under distress due to heavy rains in the city and also spoke to the deputy commissioner to release a proper compensation to the victims.”
“The BJP party workers are also visiting various wards to study the loss incurred due to the rain. This assessment will be sent to the district administration. Already work of dredging and de-silting has started”, he informed.
Mangaluru residents show unity
People of the city and organisations also rose to the occasion to help fellow brethren in need of aid.
While many may have carried out these deeds unnoticed, a few that have come to our knowledge include the opening of Saghaniketan to provide shelter to stranded people, distribution of food packets by ICYM youth, clothes being handed out by RSS members, the coming together of Muslim youth to help their Hindu brothers to remove accumulated water from Koragajja temple premises and distribution of clean drinking water to the houses in Pandeshwar by PFI activists.
These are just humble reminders of the unity in diversity that is prominently seen in Mangaluru.
