KOLLAM: The efforts to target BJP state president V Muralidharan by a section of the leaders known for ‘vote trade’ and other unethical practices which had been a disgrace to the party till recently is unlikely to make any impact this time.
The recent attempts to discredit state president V Muralidharan who is basking in the glory after a creditable performance in the local body elections by levelling allegations of financial misappropriations will not succeed as none of the leaders has raised such a complaint before the national leadership or in the state leadership meetings.
But the faction has been claiming that the national leadership has convened the meeting of the core committee from Kerala in New Delhi on December 28 to discuss the allegations levelled against the state president.
But the fact is that the meeting is scheduled to discuss the preparations for the Assembly elections in the State expected in April- May, 2011. The national leadership is holding such meetings of the core committee of four other States which also go to polls next year. As the meeting has to be attended by national president Nitin Gadkari, national general secretary, Ramalal, who is in-charge of organisation and V Satheesh, national joint general secretary also in-charge of organisation , the leadership is convening the meeting in New Delhi.
No complaints
It has been pointed out that contrary to the claims of the detractors of Muralidharan, no complaint has been field against him with the national leadership. There had been reports that former state president P K Krishnadas had filed such a complaint.
A top leader of the party in the state said that the allegations of financial irregularity were baseless. He said that the state unit of the party had to spent around `55 lakh for printing purposes during the local body elections. It was through mandalam presidents that a lump sum amount of TA was distributed during the elections.
‘A’ category and ‘B’ category panchayats were given a lump sum amount to meet the election expenditure. He said that money was spent for candidates in corporation wards in Thiruvanathapuram. Though each candidate got only `10,000, it required around `8 lakh for the candidates in the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation alone.
All these amounts were spent from the party state committee’s fund. He said no fund was allotted for the state unit from the centre this time during the local body elections. It was through cheque/DD that all the money was distributed under the supervision of the state organising secretary and treasurer.
Kerala Raksha Yathra
The leaders loyal to Muralidharan, however, admitted that some leaders had raised doubt about conducting the Kerala Raksha Yathra from Kasargod to Thriuvanantahapuram from January 16 with little preparations. But all preparations were completed for the Yathra which will be reaching Thiruvananthapuram by the last week of February. State general secretary A N Radhakrishnan will be the vice-captain of the jatha.
K P Sreeshan will be the coordinator. According to them, the ginger group is apprehensive of losing its grip in the party in the event of BJP repeating a good performance in the Assembly elections avoiding the disgrace of ‘vote trade’.