KANNUR: It seems the ‘Modi wave’ is finally taking the toll on non-BJP parties including the CPM in the red citadel, if the claims of BJP leaders are to be believed.
The BJP leaders said that a few hundred activists from parties including the CPM and the Congress were set to join the BJP camp and they would be welcomed to the party fold at a district-level function on August 24 here.
BJP district president K Ranjith told ‘Express’ that many workers would join the BJP from the CPM, Congress and the JSS on August 24.
“The CPM will see a surprising flow from their side to the BJP. Even though nearly a thousand party members and sympathisers of the CPM have expressed the willingness to join the BJP, as many as 250 of them would join the party on the occasion.
We are keeping the exact area and identity of the individuals secret for fear of physical attacks on them,” Ranjith said.
“Many of these workers were ready to join the BJP during the election period. We stopped them to avoid unnecessary problems before the polls, given the volatile political scenario in Kannur. The election result shows a discernible tilt towards the BJP among CPM workers and sympathisers. We received unexpected support from the CPM’s party boroughs, especially in Kalliasseri and Payyanur,” the BJP district president said.
Fifteen out of the 53 BJP workers who had left the party to join the CPM along with O K Vasu and A Asokan would come back.
Many of the CPM, Congress and JSS workers would be given primary membership of the party during the function. BJP national secretary P K Krishnadas, state general secretary K Surendran and other top leaders would participate in the welcome ceremony to be held at Navaneetham auditorium, K Ranjith said.
“CPM men have started trickling into the BJP in Kasargod as well and it is gathering momentum day by day,” Ranjith claimed. CPM district secretary P Jayarajan, however, said that he was not aware of anybody switching over to the BJP camp.