BJP, SNDP ready to tango

Thiruvananthapuram: The  BJP on Saturday announced 27 more electoral candidates for the 100 wards of Thiruvananthapuram Corporation.

Last week it had released the list of 43 contestants . The latest  list was announced following  hectic parleys between state party chief V. Muraleedharan and Thiruvananthapuram district officials.

Sources reveal that the SNDP Yogam local leaders have already submitted their panel  of candidates for  the  corporation. 

The remaining districts have made much headway on the alliance between the BJP and the SNDP Yogam.  At the same time, the CPM is trying to woo Ezhavas  as its  candidates in Ernakulam district.

A  BJP leader said efforts were on to rope in Ezhava candidates even in Muslim-dominated areas in the   capital city. The state BJP president was  huddled with district  BJP leaders  throughout the day at the BJP’s  headquarters at Mararji Bhavan.

The CPM is making all-out efforts to persuade Ezhavas with credibility to contest the  elections in Ernakulam.

The party has identified several such persons, a source said. In Maradu municipality,  the party has prevailed upon a person to contest  despite his reluctance, sources said.

The CPM is trying to neutralise the fallout from the SNDP-BJP alliance. The SNDP and BJP alliance would contest in three wards of Kozhikode municipal corporation, Thoppayil, Kovoor and Athanikkal.

“We are targeting 24 wards in the corporation and moves are also on to field more SNDP candidates with BJP support in the election,”  said Mr S. Raghunath, BJP district president.

“We are also planning to support candidates with a clean image,” he added. The SNDP members who are also BJP workers will contest on BJP's banner in Kollam district. 

Discussions on  contesting  as independents with BJP support have  also taken place in some pockets where BJP has strength.  In Chathannoor, local adjustments were made by the BJP for supporting SNDP members.

In Thrissur, the number of candidates from community organisations like SNDP, NSS, Dheevarasabha and Viswakarma Sabha approaching the BJP for support is on the rise,” BJP district president A. Nagesh told DC.

In Thrissur Corporation  15 seats had been kept aside by the BJP for NDA and  independent candidates from community organisations, who wish to contest with BJP support.

Likewise, in municipalities and  panchayats, the  BJP was in touch with community organisations.

In Kottayam,  SNDP candidates will contest   11 seats in the  municipality. The  SNDP will stake claims in Vaikkom Assembly constituency and the Kumarakom region where it is a major presence.

“The SNDP will be given the seats according to its  demands. They have not made any  major claims during  the discussions,”  BJP district president Ettumanur Radhakrishnan added.