BJP president Amit Shah may show up at Kerala Vimochana Yatra

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The BJP camp is upbeat, waiting to receive all-India president Amit Shah, who is expected to join State president Kummanam Rajasekharan's Kerala Vimochana Yatra “at one to two venues”.

Sources said Mr Shah did not want to distract party workers, fully geared for the yatra by announcing his itinerary. Senior BJP leaders had completed their meetings in all the 140 Assembly constituencies, even before Kummanam's Yatra was flagged off on Wednesday.

Meetings were attended by Kummanam Rajasekharan, former president V. Muraleedharan, O. Rajagopal, Ms Sobha Surendran, Mr C. K. Padmanabhan, Mr P. K. Krishnadas, Mr K. P. Sreesan and Mr K. Surendran.

Now it is almost clear that all BJP core committee leaders, including Mr Rajasekharan, are contesting the elections.

Mr Rajagopal is likely to contest from Nemom and Mr Muraleedharan is already active in Kazhakoottam. Mr Rajasekharan is expected to contest either from Thiruvananthapuram or Aranmula.

Newly elected general secretary M. T. Ramesh is likely to contest from Chengannur or from Aranmula and former State BJP president P. K. Krishnadas from Thiruvananthapuram.

But district leaders have expressed reservations about senior BJP leaders eyeing key constituencies in Thiruvananthapuram.

"Compared to LDF and UDF, our booth-level management committees have already started functioning. All feeder organisations belonging to BJP and RSS booth-level management committees have also been appointed, while UDF and LDF are way behind", claimed Mr Ramesh.

But not everyone is happy with leaders themselves deciding to contest. "Usually the RSS, led by State organiser P.R.Sasidharan and vibhag pracharak M. T. Kiran, has to approve the list of BJP candidates, which has not happened here", said a BJP leader.