THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Shaking off the initial dissonance with main ally Bharat Dharma Jana Sena (BDJS) over candidate selection for the Malappuram bypoll, the BJP-led NDA dispensation is looking to cement its roots in the constituency.
Dismissing reports of rift, BJP national executive member P K Krishnadas told ‘Express’ all the general secretaries of the BDJS will attend the NDA’s election convention in Malappuram on Wednesday.
He said BDJS general secretaries Subash babu and T V babu, among other senior leaders, will be present at the convention.
“What Vellappally stated was true. He may not have been consulted before announcing the BJP candidate. But talks were held with many BDJS leaders,” he said.
On BDJS president Thushar Vellappally’s discontent over candidate selection, he said Thushar had met the BJP national chief Amit Shah on Tuesday.
“It was natural for them (BDJS) to air their displeasure. In fact, complaints have been galore about BJP leaders being denied key posts. All such issues will be resolved soon,” he said.
Krishnadas said only 35 per cent of the 990 booths in the constituency had party booth committees. Now, the constituency has 1,180 booths and the party is aiming to have committees in 80 to 85 per cent booths. State president Kummanam Rajasekharan will inaugurate the election convention on Wednesday. Krishnadas said some of the central leaders were likely to hit the hustings.
SNDP Yogam general secretary Vellappally Natesan had vehemently criticised the state BJP leadership for allegedly treating its main ally unfairly despite its unwavering support to the BJP in the Assembly polls. Vellappally went as far as to say the BDJS would seriously consider joining the UDF camp.