THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The BJP is intensifying its efforts to interrupt its electoral dry spell in Kerala because the state braces for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. With a concerted give attention to outreach, significantly in the direction of the minority Christian neighborhood, the social gathering goals to safe a foothold within the southern state. Kerala’s demographic panorama, with Muslims and Christians constituting a good portion of the inhabitants, presents a formidable problem for the BJP, perceived as a pro-Hindu social gathering. However, the social gathering is leaving no stone unturned in its bid to attraction to various voter segments.Â
In a strategic transfer, the BJP has welcomed outstanding Christian figures like Anil Ok Antony, son of Congress stalwart A Ok Antony, and seasoned Kerala politician P C George, into its fold. Additionally, the social gathering is leveraging Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s frequent visits to Kerala, emphasising developmental agendas tailor-made to the state’s wants. To bolster its electoral prospects, the BJP has strategically fielded two Union Ministers, Rajeev Chandrasekhar and V Muraleedharan, alongside in style actor-turned-politician Suresh Gopi. The social gathering’s marketing campaign slogan, ‘Modi’s assure’, underscores its reliance on the Prime Minister’s recognition and management.Â
‘Modi’s assure’ would be the primary catchphrase of the BJP’s electoral marketing campaign this time in Kerala, social gathering leaders stated. While the BJP is assured that its technique will play out as deliberate, the 2 main conventional gamers within the state politics– the Congress-led UDF and the CPI(M)-led LDF consider that it’s going to not assist the saffron social gathering safe even a single seat. Disregarding the criticism and doubts raised by the Left entrance and the Congress, the BJP’s state basic secretary George Kurien stated that the folks of Kerala not have any belief in both of them which is why they’ll vote for the saffron social gathering. To fulfill the social gathering’s need to make inroads within the state and safe seats in double digits, as revealed by the PM throughout his most up-to-date go to to Kerala, the BJP has fielded candidates who have been finest suited and “fit” for the job, Kurien stated. “We felt that they were the most fit, the best suited candidates to contest from Kerala,” he informed PTI in response to a question as to why the social gathering fielded Union Ministers of State Muraleedharan and Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Gopi and Anil.
Gopi, Muraleedharan and Chandrasekhar will contest from the Thrissur, Attingal, and Thiruvananthapuram constituencies, respectively, whereas Anil Antony has been fielded from the Pathanamthitta constituency. Explaining why Gopi has been nominated from Thrissur, Kurien stated that he had managed to triple the social gathering’s vote share final time when he contested from that constituency.
“Similarly, in Attingal and Thiruvananthapuram too, we have seen an increase in the party’s vote share,” he stated. Antony’s son was additionally the proper alternative, the BJP chief stated. Terming the BJP’s preparations as “gimmicks” Congress MLA Mathew Kuzhalnadan stated it indicated the saffron social gathering’s “lack of confidence to fight the battle politically” as they’ve realised they aren’t going to get any political floor in Kerala primarily based on their ideology.
“That is why they are running after people from other parties or actors. But they are thoroughly mistaken, as Kerala is a very political state, and for that very reason, the people will not accept such gimmicks,” he informed PTI. With regard to the nominations of the 2 Union Ministers, Muraleedharan and Chandrasekhar, the Congress MLA stated neither was going to make a distinction. “They both tried their luck earlier, but none of them could make an impact in Kerala,” he stated.
CPI chief P P Suneer too, was of the identical view as Kuzhalnadan that the BJP’s plans to make electoral good points within the upcoming LS polls are sure to fail.
“There is no possibility of their strategy working out in Kerala. It might work in north India, but not here,” he stated. He stated that individuals in Kerala are very political and wouldn’t be swayed by movie stars like Gopi. When it was identified that the actor managed to triple the social gathering’s vote share in Thrissur within the 2019 LS polls, Suneer stated that was due to his novelty issue.
“It was the same when Rahul Gandhi contested from Wayanad last time. Five years have gone by. There have been a lot of issues since then,” he stated.
“There is no way the vote share would increase this time,” he added. Regarding the fielding of the central ministers, Suneer stated their presence wouldn’t affect voters as they haven’t accomplished something for Kerala.
“The PM only made back-to-back trips to the state and announced some projects, but did nothing to benefit the public. His visits are only for publicity,” the CPI state assistant secretary stated. Suneer additionally stated that the current defection of Padmaja Venugopal, daughter of late Congress stalwart and former Kerala CM Ok Karunakaran, to the BJP won’t profit the saffron social gathering and has solely served to spoil the general public’s religion within the Congress.
“The LDF will benefit from it,” he added. Kuzhalnadan stated that it was unlucky that she moved to the BJP. “But we will get over it. Karunakaran’s son, K Muraleedharan, has decided to contest from Thrissur. It is a strong reply to the BJP. “Padmaja going to the BJP will in the end injury them politically,” the MLA from Muvattupuzha contended.
Regarding the current assertion of Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan that the defections from Congress will erode folks’s belief in them, Kuzhalnadan stated the Marxist veteran was making an attempt to shift consideration from the corruption allegations he was going through. Kurien then again stated that the Congress and the Left Front, being the political rivals of the BJP, will all the time say that the saffron social gathering will get no seats in Kerala. “But the people will prove them wrong,” Kurien stated.
