Internal feud haunts Kerala BJP

In the election-bound state of Kerala, it’s not just the Opposition, but its own leaders which seem to be creating hurdles for the BJP central leadership. After state leadership failed to act on the recommendations of the central leadership, the latter gave a stern message to state leaders to keep their “ego aside” and act on its advice. The advice also includes resolving the seat-sharing issue with Bharat Dharma Jana Sena (BDJS), political wing of one of the most powerful caste-based organisations, SNDP.

BJP central leadership have also asked the state leaders to rope in two senior leaders, including T.P. Mukundan and K. Raman Pillai, for election related activities. Mr Pillai had quit the BJP and formed a new outfit but recently announced that his outfit will be dissolved and par-ty leaders will be inducted in the BJP. Sources disclosed an initiative in this regard is yet to be taken from the BJP side, which has delayed the process. Even the RSS wants these two leaders back in the BJP’s state unit.

BJP central leaders including national general secretary (organisation) Ramlal, B.L. Santosh, J.P. Nadda and H. Raja held a meeting with the state leaders in Kochi on Friday.

SNDP general-secretary Vellappally Natesan recent remarks where he had said that his party was in touch with parties other than the BJP also, did not go down well with the BJP top brass. It was seen as a pressure tactic by the SNDP to resolve the alliance issue with the BJP. SNDP, it was learnt, had taken up with BJP central leadership, the issue of its state unit’s unwillingness in resolving the alliance and seat sharing.

Sources disclosed BJP central leadership was also miffed that general secretaries and vice presidents’ of the state unit have not yet been assigned any task when the unit was restructured more than a month back.

The BJP is also trying to forge an alliance or a tactical understanding with the Nair Service Society (NSS), another powerful caste based organisation. But the state unit seems to be in a dilemma as most of its leaders including state unit chief K. Rajashekhran, are Nairs and the party is aggressively wooing BDJS.

Despite reminders by the central leadership to rope in parliamentarian Richard Hay for election related activities, the Kerala BJP unit has failed to do so far.