THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kummanam Rajasekharan, the newly appointed state president of the BJP, said Kerala would witness a political explosion in the upcoming Assembly elections, resulting in the further surge of the party in the state. “Very soon there bound to be a major political explosion in the state. Political parties are now being confronted with issues they’d never faced in the past. Discussions are on for new tie-ups,” Kummanam told Express in his first interview as the BJP’ state supremo.
“Everyone has their secrets to keep with parties within the UDF holding hidden talks with the LDF and vice-versa. They are looking for an alternative due to the stagnancy prevalent.” Kummanam justified his view point, presenting a picture of the vote share. “We have a solid vote base in Kerala. There are three constituencies where we polled more than 40,000 votes. There are about 9-8 constituencies where we could win more than 35,000 votes. BJP has about 15 per cent votes in the state while Congress has only 25%. If Congress with 25% votes can rule, what’s wrong with the assumption that BJP with 15% votes can come to power,” he said.
Kummanam asserted the need for value based politics. “Value based politics is essential. In all parties, there are good people. Due to corruption and mismanagement in Kerala, more people are turning apolitical these days. Politicians are responsible for this dangerous trend which needs to be reversed. This will be done with changing equations in the existing political fronts.
“People who follow different ideologies and perspectives will be part of the third force. It’s not a Hindu view point, but it’s the people’s point of view,” he said.
However, Kummanam did not project Vellappally Natesan, the SNDP General Secretary, as the possible leader of the thrid force. “Let him first get a mandate from his own party which is yet to decide on its office-bearers. There are parties who want to join the third force. Similarly, NSS is not staying away from us,” he said.
Kummanam played down his hardliner face. “Being the Secretary of the Hindu Aikya Vedi was just one of my responsibilities. They are many other organisations in which I have been active like the Ayyappa Seva Sangam and Aranmula Paithrika Samrakshana Samithi where I work alongside Christians and Muslims too. Just because the word Hindu is associated with me, I cannot be seen as communal.” On the issue of community polarisation, Kummanam said: “Surely there will be a polarisation of majority communities. Minority communities too will have a re-thinking. Even Church leaders have started speaking about it. If they feel that the BJP would redress their grievances, won’t they stand with the BJP?” There’s an emerging feeling within other sections that there’s no need for antagonism towards Hindus. Once the Imam asked me whether I would be interested in taking part in Nabi Day fete. Has any Bishop in Kerala ever said Kummanam is anti-Christian? It’s Pinarayi Vijayan who says that.”