Kerala Assembly Elections: NDA sets eyes on twenty seats

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: While the UDF and the LDF want to prevent the BJP from opening an account in the state Assembly, the saffron party hopes to win at least 20 seats which will enable it to have a decisive say in the formation of the next government. The NDA is also keen on keeping both the fronts out of power.  

Though BJP state president Kummanam Rajaekharan claims that the NDA will bag 72 seats, the BJP leaders know that it is a pipe dream.  As per the present trend, the BJP is certain of winning Palakkad, Vattiyurkavu, Chengannur, Manjeshwaram  and the BDJS's seats of Kuttanad and Udumbanchola.

The state and national leaders of the BJP  have been focussing on 22 A-plus seats where their senior leaders, who are also the core committee members, are contesting.  After the SNDP Yogam’s political front, Bharat Dharma Jana Sena, was formed and became an ally in the NDA, the BJP has  been hoping for upset victories in several constituencies in Idukki and Alappuzha districts.  

“The people are fed up of the UDF government’s corruption as well as  stagnation in development. These factors would benefit the NDA,”  said Mr Kummanam.  Though it is alleged that the BJP has been playing the communal card, former BJP state president P. S. Sreedharan Pillai, contesting from Chengannur, told DC that Christian communities had come forward to support him.

“The current political situation is favourable to the  BJP. For example, in Venmani village, I was invited to  churches and prayer centres and allowed to address the believers which was  something unimaginable earlier,” he said. Another senior BJP candidate told DC that the NDA had been conducting  good grassroots-level campaigns. 

He feels that the pamphlets being distributed highlighting the schemes of the BJP government at the centre along with the chargesheets  brought out against the UDF and the Left  had  made the voters aware of the high stakes in this election.