Sivagiri visit, sapling planting on PM plea

Thiruvananthapuram: After attending two programmes in Kollam on Dec 15- the unveiling of the R. Sankar statue and the launch of a new building at the SN College of Legal Studies -- Prime Minister Narendra Modi will head for Sivagiri.

This is the second time Mr Modi is coming to Sivagiri, but his first visit was as the Gujarat Chief Minister. His visit to the seat of Sree Narayana Guru is seen as a political move to cosy the numerically significant Ezhava community ahead of state elections in April. He sees a potential ally in Bharat Dharma Jana Sena of SNDP Yogam general secretary Vellapally Natesan to open his party's account.

He had come to Sivagiri Mutt to inaugurate the 51st Sree Narayana Dharma Meemamsa Parishad in April 2013 ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. He then promised the Sree Narayana Dharma Sangham Trust to open propagation centres for Guru's teachings in Gujarat.

Mutt sources said they arranged the visit on a request from Prime Minister's Office. The PMO informed them that Mr Modi wanted to offer prayers at the Guru's Mahasamadhi.

"This time Sivagiri Mutt has not invited him. Yes, he has a game plan to appease Ezhava community when Assembly elections are round the corner," a top source said.

"He's coming here in his interest. He is expected to plant a tree as well. However, we are yet to finalise what type of tree he would plant."

Not many leaders had planted a tree on Sivagiri grounds. When Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama came to inaugurate its 80th annual pilgrimage in Varkala in 2012, he had planted one to commemorate his visit.

The 83rd annual pilgrimage will be held from Dec 31 to Jan 1. The Prime Minister, on his maiden visit to Kerala, will arrive in Kochi on Monday and proceed to Thrissur to attend the public rally where the winners in the recent civic polls will be given a reception.

He will stay at Taj Malabar in Kochi overnight and proceed to Kollam after attending a combined commanders' conference onboard aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya the next day.

BJP leaders to resist Balasankar.

Amid reports of RSS mouthpiece Organiser editor R. Balashankar likely to be appointed as the new State BJP president, the majority of the Kerala leaders are expected to oppose the move citing that a leader with a firm grip on the local realities in the State should come as a the new party chief.

The issue is likely to come up for dicussion at the State committee, scheduled  to meet on Thursday in Thrissur. There are reports from New Delhi that both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP national president Amit Shah are keen to see a new party chief with no factional affiliation. “How Balashankar can be air-lifted from New Delhi when he does not belong to the State,” wondered a BJP leader. “Our demand is that State leader be appointed as the new president on his/her calibre, reputation and popularity alone.”