Thiruvananthapuram: BJP state president K Surendran on Wednesday threatened journalists close on the heels of reports taht a section of party leaders have sought his resignation following the defeat in Palakkad assembly bypoll.
"No journalist who tried to insult our party and movement would be spared. Those who tried to defame the party and gave fake news would be dealt with accordingly," Surendran warned.
The state president's anger towards the media arises amidst a significant rift among party leaders following the Palakkad bypoll debacle. Although Surendran offered to resign, accepting responsibility for the defeat, the BJP central leadership asked him to continue.
Subsequently, Surendran appeared to go berserk. Initially, he ridiculed journalists for reporting the party's internal discord. However, by Wednesday, he targeted the media persons, issuing an open threat.
The BJP leadership is also disturbed by the resignation threats from party councillors in the Palakkad municipality. Some state leaders blame the defeat on the lackluster campaign efforts of these councillors.
Additionally, there are concerns about Sandeep Varier, who left the BJP to join Congress, attempting to influence the discontented municipal councillors.
In a social media post, Varier conveyed a clear message to the dissenters: "Those who reject the ideology of hate will not be politically orphaned."
Meanwhile, the Kerala Union of Working Journalists (KUWJ) has denounced the threats made by BJP State President K Surendran. The union declared that Kerala's democratic-minded people would dismiss the BJP leader's authoritarian inclinations with the disdain they merit.
