For Kerala grand coalition, BJP to draft common agenda

Rajasekharan is scheduled to take out a yatra from Kasargode district in Kerala later this month.

Eager to expand its base in poll-bound Kerala and come up as a credible political alternative, the BJP now plans to formulate a common minimum programme for its coalition in the state. On Sunday, the party’s state unit and the newly formed Bharat Dharma Jana Sena (BDJS) began formal discussions on the prospective grand alliance in the state. The BDJS was launched last year by Vellappally Natesan, chief of the prominent Ezhava outfit, Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana Yogam (SNDP).

State BJP chief Kummanam Rajasekharan, former BJP state president V Muraleedharan, BJP national president Amit Shah and Natesan’s son Tushar Vellappally began negotiations Sunday in New Delhi. According to party sources, the formal talks on terms of the coalition were discussed in the meeting for the first time.

“Earlier, the discussions were on different political programmes, including the padayatras that were to be taken up in the state,” said a source. They added that the leaders Sunday decided that new groups will be added to the coalition on the basis of a common minimum programme. The leaders also had talks on the possibilities of bringing together all “anti-Congress and anti-Left” forces in the state.

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“There is a strong resentment against the fronts led by the Communists and the ruling Congress. Talks were held on how to approach the forthcoming Assembly polls,” Rajasekharan told reporters after the meeting, .

Rajasekharan is scheduled to take out a yatra from Kasargode district in Kerala later this month. In Kerala, where it is yet to open its account in the 140-member Assembly, the BJP is trying to form a grand coalition of small Hindu outfits representing different communities.

Liz Mathew

Have been in journalism covering national politics for 23 years. Have covered six consecutive Lok Sabha elections and assembly polls in almost all the states. Currently writes on ruling BJP. Always loves to understand what's cooking in the national politics (And ventures into the act only in kitchen at home). ... Read More

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