PALAKKAD: Amid a series of internal party controversies related to the by-poll in Palakkad, the BJP leader Sandeep G Varier, a popular face of the party in Palakkad, has come out against the BJP's state leadership, and the party's candidate C Krishnakumar.
In a lengthy Facebook post, Varier, BJP's state committee member, said there was no emotional closeness by the BJP leaders towards him, especially when it was much needed. "Even today, I am just a humble BJP worker, who holds the flag, shouts slogans and puts up posters... But I have faced some mental difficulties. It is true. It cannot be hidden. I believe that a person's self-esteem is the most important thing..." he wrote.
Within three hours of writing his emotions, Varier’s post received 15,000 responses mainly from the BJP and RSS sympathisers themselves.
Directly pointing out C Krishnakumar, the state's long-time BJP leader who is now contesting in the Palakkad by-poll, Varier alleged that when his mother passed away two years ago, Krishnakumar, the state general secretary from the district, didn’t turn up to pay homage, nor had the courtesy to call and convey his condolences.
"My mother had given permission to build an office for the Sangh movement while lying sick in her bed, and even when she died, Krishnakunar did not visit my house. Your present opposing candidate Dr P Sarin and many senior level opposition leaders came running to my house... I am not worried about the rest of the people who didn’t come. But, even when I was the state office-bearer, you did not place even a wreath of the state committee on my mother’s dead body... All I have to say is don’t kill me by loving me more," read Varier's emotional post.
Varier used the post to write a befitting reply to some of the BJP leaders who have been alleging that he was not seen in the election campaigning this time.
Meanwhile, BJP leaders said that Varier was actually hoping that the party would field him in the election. “When compared to Krishnadas, Varier is never a match among the grassroots workers. People still know Varier as a party sympathiser and a blabbermouth. He has actually put the party many times on the defensive. He is still not politically mature,” a state leader told The New Indian Express.
Sources said that Varier was eyeing some senior post in the organisation by making these statements during the campaign. “We don’t believe any opposition parties will pick him. If so, it would be suicidal for them. Varier always took a stand in favour of Hinduism and the minority votes in Palakkad is very crucial in this election,” shared a BJP insider.
Varier has concluded the post wishing success to Krishnakumar and BJP in Palakkad but made it clear that his self-respect does not allow him to return to the place where he was completely humiliated and added that he has lost hope.