Nair Votes Crucial for BJP, Says P P Mukundan

Bejoy said the party leadership should take extra effort in removing the misunderstanding.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:  Veteran BJP leader P P Mukundan, who has returned to active politics after a hiatus, has said that unity of the various caste organisations and the cooperation of the  minorities would play a pivotal role in determining the prospects of the party in the upcoming election. Speaking to Express, he said that the major weakness of the BJP in the state was its lack of care in building up a social base.

He said the party leadership should take extra effort in removing the misunderstanding, if any, in the mind of the NSS leadership towards BJP.

“For this, the BJP Central leadership has a role to play and it should take the lead. If NSS general secretary Sukumaran Nair had made any complaints about the party’s approach to NSS, there should be efforts to clear the misconceptions,” said Mukundan. He emphasised the need for facilitating a meeting with the NSS leadership and Union Ministers and BJP chief Amit Shah during their visit to the state.

From Palakkad to Thiruvananthapuram, NSS and the Nair community have a great influence and there should be special emphasis in bringing them to vote for the BJP. Mukundan said that this would not be an uphill task as, for several years, Nair community was the mainstay of the BJP. He pointed out that while NSS was speaking about maintaining equidistance, Sukumaran Nair has reiterated that NSS had nothing against BJP. He said besides NSS, the backward communities and Dalits should be attracted to the party.

Suresh Gopi’s Nomination

Welcoming the nomination of Suresh Gopi to the Rajya Sabha by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Mukundan said the nomination was a masterstroke from the part of the Central leadership. He said Suresh Gopi as campaigner would help the party make major inroads in several parts of the state.

Lukewarm Approach

Asked about his role in the Assembly election, Mukundan said he had not yet received any particular assignment from the party. “Whatever assignment is given, I would take it up for the benefit of the party,” he said.

Youths’ Role

Mukundan said the youth voters in the state would be wholeheartedly supporting the BJP as they feel that the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi would bring them  employment. “See, now 40 lakh migrant labourers are working in the stat. At the same time, educated youths of Kerala are going outside to find employment as the atmosphere here is still not congenial for investors,’’ he said.

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