It is noteworthy that Yashpal Suvarna, who was BJP’s ‘poster boy’ during the hijab controversy, is now the party’s candidate from Udupi assembly seat. He was the vice-chairman of the development committee of the Udupi Government Pre-University College for Women when the controversy arose. The party has fielded Suvarna, who is a leader of the Mogaveera (fisherman community) and has a strong hold on party workers, in place of sitting MLA Raghupati Bhat. Suvarna said the controversy was created by ‘anti-national and anti-social elements’ who do not want Muslim girls or poor Hindu students to be educated.

Bha input with