BDJS seeks its pound of flesh with Central posts

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Bharat Dharma Jana Sena nursing a grouse against the BJP for denying it poll funds now hopes for a suitable compensation in Central government positions. BDJS president Tushar Vellappally is meeting BJP president Amit Shah on Saturday. BJP state president Kummanam Rajasekharan had already submitted its panel to Mr Shah.

Recently a secret meeting of top level BDJS leaders was held where the majority of them expressed their displeasure over not getting adequate funds. BDJS leaders from Thrissur and neighbouring districts alleged that local level BJP cadres had not supported the BDJS candidates in the Assembly elections.

But at the end of the meeting it was decided that since there are lots of cases filed against the SNDP Yogam leadership, it was better to cosy up towards the central BJP leadership. But Tushar Vella-ppally said they had never demanded election funds.

“We contested the elections with our own resources and as an ally in the NDA, what right do we have got to demand funds to BJP? We are an open book and do not wish to bargain with the central BJP leadership on the various chairperson posts in central boards. We will sit together and decide on Saturday at 9 am as to which all posts should be given to BDJS,” he told this newspaper.

But top BJP sources told this newspaper that Mr Shah had parted with an ‘astronomical sum’ tow-ards election funds including for the BDJS, which they are not keen to admit openly. Meanwhile, a section of BJP leaders had apprised that Nair votes have been lost in the Assembly elections because of the alliance with BDJS.

But contrary to what these leaders claims, Mr Shah has been keen on having a strong alliance with the BDJS right from day one. Though chairmen posts were expected to be given at a much earlier stage itself, it was delayed just because central BJP leadership has been awaiting the list of BDJS candidates.