BJP yatra gets lukewarm response in some districts in Kerala

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: BJP state president Kummanam Rajasekharan's Kerala Vimochana Yatra did not evoke much interest in some areas especially in Thrithala and Shoranur in Palakkad district and some parts of Kozhikode.

BJP sources told DC that there was confusion among the newly appointed district presidents. However, RSS leadership is happy about the all-round response his Yatra evoked. BJP leaders have got a divided opinion about its success.

A prominent leader told DC that Mr Rajasekharan went wrong in the appointment of district presidents.

"Most of them came to know of their dethroning only the next day through newspapers. That was a bad move on his part. The revamping should have been avoided until the Assembly elections got over," he said.

But M. T. Ramesh, general secretary, told DC that unlike the previous yatras of party presidents, Kummanam's had evoked much interest among the general public.

He said, unlike the other political parties' Yatras, Kummanam, who is being projected as 'Kerala Modi,' has come up with a simple slogan - food, water, shelter and labour — which are the basic needs. He was a part of the Yatras of six former party presidents.

"He speaks about small issues in an appealing way which draws attention. He is a widely accepted leader," said Mr Ramesh, who is also the Yatra coordinator.

"In places like Thalassery, Kasaragod and Kanhangad (which is a CPM constituency) and Mananthavadi, Kalpetta and Bathery in Wayanad district, CPM was way behind. I'm saying this as per the reports of the special branch police."

Apart from Mr Ramesh, his firebrand general secretary colleague Sobha Surendran's speeches are welcomed heartily by the public.

She has been speaking at all the main centres of the Yatra along with the leader.
The RSS leadership is happy to see the general response of the public unlike in the previous Yatras held by former party chiefs.