The third day of BJP's Jan Raksha Yatra in Kerala was to be led by party president, Amit Shah, but the latter gave the padyatra a miss due to prior engagements in Delhi.

Amit Shah, who flagged off the two-week-long yatra in Kerala's Kannur district on October 3, was slated to be back today to join his party workers as they crossed Pinarayi - native village of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.

His presence would've been a big boost for the cadres, as their chief walked with them through the epicentre of brutal clashes between the RSS and CPM workers.

It would've amounted to an open challenge to the CPM cadres, with the two sides locked in violent clashes for a long time now.

Sources said, possibly a meeting with the Prime Minister kept Shah back in the capital.

He is expected to rejoin the yatra on October 17, on its last day.

WATCH VIDEO | Amit Shah in Kerala: BJP president flags off Jan Raksha Yatra from Kannur

Kerala: BJP Chief Amit Shah skips padyatra, will rejoin on October 17

Sources said, possibly a meeting with the Prime Minister kept Shah back in the capital.