THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: With Prime Minister Narendra Modi planning to expand his council of ministers after June 20, reports coming in from Delhi suggest that Kerala might still get a representation despite BJP drawing a blank in the Lok Sabha elections from the state.
There are 10 states including Kerala which are yet to get a berth on the Modi Cabinet. Sources said senior BJP leader O Rajagopal who came a close second in Thiruvananthapuram constituency, stood a chance though the age criterion went against him. Apart from him, the names of BJP state president V Muraleedharan, former president P K Krishnadas and the eloquent Sobha Surendran are also doing the rounds.
When contacted, Mr Rajagopal said; “I don’t have any official intimation about representation for Kerala. But there is no justification in demanding a representation. People should have thought about it during the elections.’’
The veteran leader is not at all amused that the voters had not seen the larger picture and ensured a sure-shot Cabinet minister by electing him instead of re-electing Dr Shashi Tharoor.
Meanwhile, BJP spokesman V V Rajesh refuted reports about the state getting a berth in the next expansion. “There is no such possibility. Most senior leaders have conveyed it clearly that representation for the state is not needed at this stage and preference be given to states which ensured party MPs,’’ he added.
Notwithstanding the stand taken by BJP local leaders which many believe is due to humility, a section of central leadership is against leaving out Kerala. It would send out a wrong signal especially with elections to local bodies slated for 2015 and the Assembly polls a year later.
It wants the state unit to make a strong bid to consolidate the gains made during Lok Sabha elections and a representative in Modi Ministry would only help achieve this goal.
