Daijiworld Media Network - Puttur (SP)
Puttur, Apr 6: Karnataka state BJP president, Nalin Kumar Kateel, strongly feels that his party would be able to open its account in Kerala assembly this year by winning a minimum of ten seats. He said that the party is sure to win both Kasargod and Manjeshwar assembly constituencies besides annexing at least eight other constituencies.
He reasoned that there is a pro-BJP wave among the young people and women of Kerala. He said that for the BJP, this will be its best performance in Kerala so far. Addressing a press meet here on Monday April 5, he said that in the 2016 Kerala assembly poll, he had functioned as joint in-charge of the party. "I was also joint in-charge in the Lok Sabha election. Now the situation on the ground has changed there. As the Oommen Chandy's UDF government indulged in outright corruption, LDF reaped benefit. Pinarayi Vijayan government which rose to power by promising cleaner, corruption-free rule, now is stuck with several cases. BJP is the favourite of the youngsters and women in Kerala now," he analysed.
"Since long, it was believed that the Hindus in Kerala were leaning towards the LDF. But after the Sabarimala Ayyappa shrine entry issue, the Hindus have turned against the LDF. After Pinarayi Vijayan assumed office, cases of murder and attack have increased. Politics of murder and enmity will turn the tables against the LDF this time. We have made full use of all the BJP MLAs from Karnataka coast and about 1,500 workers from Dakshina Kannada worked there for the party," he explained.
Referring to Maoist naxal attack on the soldiers at Chhattisgarh, he said that the Maoists had become very strong between 2004 and 2014. "After the Modi government rose to power, this has been brought under control. Terrorism in Kashmir is being crushed. Sporadic incidents do happen, but in course of time, everything will stop," he hoped.
About the zilla and taluk panchayat elections which may be held by May end, he said the BJP has prepared itself for the same and a few plans of action have been thought of. "We will held one convention each in each assembly constituency. Discussions about the dismantling of the taluk panchayat institution is under discussion now. The state government has recommend to revert to the previous taluk board system instead of taluk panchayat. We cannot say when this will happen. Taluk panchayat election will be held this time," Nalin said in reply to a question.