THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Bureaucrat-turned-politician Alphons Kannanthanam said that it was BJP national president Nitin Gadkari’s vision and concept of development that prompted him to join the party.
He was talking to the reporters here on Monday.
“BJP president Nitin Gadkari’s work as a minister in Maharashtra has influenced me a lot. His only agenda is development which completely goes well with my views,” Alphons said, explaining the reason for joining the BJP.
When asked whether he fully agreed to all the policies of the BJP, he said that he was in agreement with the basic policies of the party.
“If you ask me in detail, I might not be able to say as I am a newcomer to any political party. I am just four-days-old in any political party,” he said.
He added that he did not join the party expecting any Parliamentary positions.
“If somebody appreciates my competence and offer me any such position, that is a different matter,” Alphons said.
He also said that he would campaign for BJP candidates in the state.
Final list
Meanwhile, the BJP announced the candidates for the remaining six constituencies in the state.
BJP state president V Muraleedharan said that while party candidates would contest in Poonjar, Idukki, Chelakkara and Manathavadi constituencies, party-supported candidates would contest in Malampuzha and Chirayinkeezhu.
“The party is all set to field its national leaders to campaign for the candidates in the state,” Muraleedharan said. “Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj would inaugurate the campaign in Thiruvananthapuram on April 1. She would attend the campaign meetings of BJP candidates in Nemom and Kattakkada,” he added. Other party leaders such as Nitin Gadkari, Venkaiah Naidu, Rajnath Singh and Shahnawaz Hussein, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, actors Hema Malini and Smriti Irani, are also expected to campaign in the state.