ALAPPUZHA: The BJP has offered Spices Board chairman post to BDJS leader Subash Vasu to patch up the fissures in the relations with the SNDP Yogam. According to BDJS sources, a formal announcement in this regard would be made soon. The immediate reason behind the appointment is the drastic dip in BJP’s vote share in the Chengannur byelection.
The BDJS has been asking the BJP state and Central leaderships to honour the promises given to the party when it joined the NDA two years ago. However, the BJP leadership was reluctant to accede to the demands put forth by the BDJS. Following this, the party decided not to support the BJP candidate in the bypoll, leading to the BJP losing over 6,500 votes compared to the 2016 Assembly election.
In 2016, SNDP and BDJS had strongly supported NDA. Consequently the BJP Central leadership offered many posts to the BDJS in return. However, after the election, the BJP leadership went back on the promises given to the SNDP and BDJS.
The present move by the BJP is to pacify the BDJS and SNDP prior to the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.
Meanwhile, Subash Vasu told Express he is yet to get the order appointing him as Spices Board chairman. Vasu is also the president of SNDP Yogam Mavelikkara union. He contested as NDA candidate in the Kuttanad Assembly constituency in 2016.