BJP divided over new Kerala chief

The BJP’s Kerala unit seems to be divided over the issue of who will head the party in the state after the central leadership indicated that it is in favour of giving the post to a new face.

Assembly elections in the state are scheduled next year and factionalism is one of the major issues that worries the saffron party in this state where it is yet to open an account in the Assembly. The party has also never sent any member to Parliament from the state. Sources disclosed that after the name of RSS mouthpiece Organiser’s former editor and the party’s publication department head R. Balashankar was suggested by the central leadership to head the Kerala unit, a section within the state unit proposed the name of RSS prachark Kummanam Rajasekharan.

BJP president Amit Shah has called meetings of core group leaders from election-bound states, including Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Assam on Wednesday. In these meetings with the state leaders, Mr Shah and other central leaders are expected to take up organisational matters along with election-related issues. The BJP holds organisational elections after every three years from the central to state levels. In Kerala, the party’s organisational elections will be held after the Assembly elections.

Sources said the name of Mr Rajasekharan, who is also the general secretary of the right-wing organisation Hindu Aikya Vedi, is supported by the faction of current state unit chief V. Muralidheeran while Mr Balashankar’s name is supported by the other faction.

In Kerala, the BJP is likely to tie up with the SNDP, which has a major following among the numerically strong Ezhavas, which have been traditionally with the Left Front. The BJP is also holding talks with other religious and cultural organisations ahead of the polls for a possible tieup.