BJP chief Amit Shah arrives in Kerala on three-day visit

BJP chief Amit Shah on Friday began his three-day Kerala visit, amid a raging row in the state over a Central government notification banning sale of cattle in animal markets for slaughter.

Shah, who arrived at the Nedumbassery International Airport near here this morning, was accorded a rousing welcome by hundreds of BJP workers.

Accompanied by a bike rally organised by party workers, he later proceeded to a government guest house here.

During his stay in Kochi, Shah would attend a meeting of the BJP state core committee before the state NDA meeting and meeting with bishops as part of efforts to win over a section of Christians in the state.

The BJP leadership in Kerala hopes Shah's meeting with bishops will help build bridges with the minority community, which accounts for 18-20 per cent of votes in the state.

The Hindu far right has often been at loggerheads with Christians over the hugely contentious issue of religious conversions.

The party's in-charge of the state H Raja had said the meeting is aimed at "understanding each other" and added that Shah would undertake an "in-depth" analysis of the organisational work in the state during his three-day stay.

Shah is likely to flag the recent public slaughter of a calf by Youth Congress workers.

The public butchering of a calf by Youth Congress leaders in Kerala last week to protest the Centre's ban on sale and purchase of cattle at animal markets for slaughter has come in handy for him and he is likely to target the Congress, which has been on the defensive over the issue.