While the BJP is trying to stitch up an alliance with a ‘winnable image,’ the party appears to be hit by internal bickering. Staunch Modi supporters like actor and former Mylapore MLA S Ve Shekher feel they are being sidelined.
Speaking to Express, Shekher recalled he was introduced to Modi by journalist Cho Ramaswamy in Chennai in 2009. During the meeting, the actor recalled he told the BJP leader he did not want to contest the Lok Sabha elections, but only wanted to campaign for the party. Before he formally joined the party, he spoke to State unit president Pon Radhakrishnan, who promised to make him the propaganda president.
However, even after four months, the actor said, he did not even receive an invitation for Modi’s recent meeting at Vandalur, let alone other party functions.
His offer to campaign for the party in the Delhi Assembly elections was also not taken up despite the fact he cut short his tour of the United States for the purpose.