CKP cornered in BJP state meet

The meeting ‘observed’ that Padmanabhan’s comment on issues related to Che Guevara and filmmaker Kamal were ‘improper’ and badly timed

KOTTAYAM: The crucial three-day state-level leadership meeting and state council of the BJP got under way at Aiswarya auditorium in Kottayam on Monday. The meeting had assumed significance amid rumours of discord mounting among the state leaders over the statements issued by certain leaders dragging the party into controversies.
The state leadership reportedly expressed its strong displeasure, over the public comment made by former state president C K Padmanabhan, which forced the party into defensive mode.

The leadership meeting, attended by six state general secretaries and state president Kummanam Rajasekharan, reportedly observed that Padmanabhan’s comment on issues related to Che Guevara and film director Kamal, were ‘improper’ and badly timed. The meeting decided to discuss issues like benefits of demonetisation, attack on Dalits, stalemate in state administration, law and order situation and the crisis in the public distribution system.
It is learnt that Padmanabhan was isolated in the core committee meeting, which was held in the afternoon.

The meeting, attended by state president, former presidents including C K Padmanabhan, and state general secretaries, also echoed the stand taken by the leadership meeting.
Earlier, speaking to media persons, Kummanam Rajasekharan said that everything, including controversies would be discussed in the three-day meet. “We need to bring clarity on issues. Contemporary developments will be discussed (in the meetings),” he said. At the same time, he refused to comment on whether the meeting would discuss public statements issued by C K Padmanabhan and party general secretary A N Radhakrishnan.

According to sources, prominence will be given to iron out the difference of opinion in the state leadership. Stress will be laid on preparing the party for the Parliament election to be held in 2019.
The meeting also decided to organise massive protests against the arson attack on the house of a BJP worker at Kanjikode in Palakkad on December 27, leading to the death of two persons. Speaking to media persons on the sidelines of the meet, BJP state general secretary Sobha Surendran said the BJP will hold protests  across the state on Tuesday.

“We will organise marches and dharna on Friday against the CPM brutality of setting a house on fire leading to the death of two persons, including a woman,” she said. Sobha also warned that Bhopal incident, where Chief Minister was forced to keep away from a meeting due to protest, will repeat in Kerala, if the government failed to ensure a peaceful life for women.

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