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 deal with outreach, notably in the direction of the minority Christian group, the occasion 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 occasion.
However, the occasion is leaving no stone unturned in its bid to attraction to numerous voter segments.
In a strategic transfer, the BJP has welcomed distinguished 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 occasion 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 fashionable actor-turned-politician Suresh Gopi.
The occasion’s marketing campaign slogan, ‘Modi’s assure’, underscores its reliance on the Prime Minister’s recognition and management.
‘Modi’s assure’ would be the fundamental catchphrase of the BJP’s electoral marketing campaign this time in Kerala, occasion leaders mentioned.
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 imagine that it’s going to not assist the saffron occasion 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 mentioned that the folks of Kerala now not have any belief in both of them which is why they’ll vote for the saffron occasion.
To fulfill the occasion’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 greatest suited and “fit” for the job, Kurien mentioned.
“We felt that they were the most fit, the best suited candidates to contest from Kerala,” he advised PTI in response to a question as to why the occasion 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 mentioned that he had managed to triple the occasion’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 mentioned.
Antony’s son was additionally the proper selection, the BJP chief mentioned.
Terming the BJP’s preparations as “gimmicks” Congress MLA Mathew Kuzhalnadan mentioned it indicated the saffron occasion’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 advised PTI.
With regard to the nominations of the 2 Union Ministers, Muraleedharan and Chandrasekhar, the Congress MLA mentioned neither was going to make a distinction.
“They both tried their luck earlier, but none of them could make an impact in Kerala,” he mentioned.
CPI chief P P Suneer too, was of the identical view as Kuzhalnadan that the BJP’s plans to make electoral beneficial properties 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 mentioned.
He mentioned 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 occasion’s vote share in Thrissur within the 2019 LS polls, Suneer mentioned 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 mentioned.
“There is no way the vote share would increase this time,” he added.
Regarding the fielding of the central ministers, Suneer mentioned their presence wouldn’t affect voters as they haven’t carried out 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 mentioned.
Suneer additionally mentioned that the latest defection of Padmaja Venugopal, daughter of late Congress stalwart and former Kerala CM Ok Karunakaran, to the BJP won’t profit the saffron occasion and has solely served to spoil the general public’s religion within the Congress.
“The LDF will benefit from it,” he added.
Kuzhalnadan mentioned that it was unlucky that she moved to the BJP.
“But we’ll recover from it. Karunakaran’s son, Ok Muraleedharan, has determined to contest from Thrissur. It is a powerful reply to the BJP.
“Padmaja going to the BJP will ultimately damage them politically,” the MLA from Muvattupuzha contended.
Regarding the latest assertion of Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan that the defections from Congress will erode folks’s belief in them, Kuzhalnadan mentioned the Marxist veteran was attempting to shift consideration from the corruption allegations he was dealing with.
Kurien alternatively mentioned that the Congress and the Left Front, being the political rivals of the BJP, will all the time say that the saffron occasion will get no seats in Kerala.
“But the people will prove them wrong,” Kurien mentioned.
(Only the headline and film of this report might have been reworked by the Business Standard workers; the remainder of the content material is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
