THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: BJP national president Amit Shah has pulled up the state leadership for the absence of an effective programme for the upcoming local body elections. He evaluated the state leadership’s work at the 12-member core committee meeting held to prepare an action plan for the polls.
Though he was scheduled to meet the RSS leadership and prominent people later in the evening at Bharatheeya Vichara Kendram, he cut short his visit and rushed to New Delhi as Prime Minister Narendra Modi was expected back from South Korea late on Tuesday night.
Mr Amit Shah asked Mr Rajiv Prathap Rudy, Union Minister of State for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, who also acts as a binding force between the state and the central BJP leadership, to concentrate more on Kerala affairs.
Mr Amit Shah asked national BJP secretary B. L. Santhosh to submit three reports on the state leadership’s works. After the core committee meeting, Mr Rudy denied any factionalism in the state leadership.
“Contrary to media reports, there has been no factionalism. Everything is under control. The state leadership has geared up for a good campaign for the local body elections,” said Mr Rudy. Kannur BJP district president K. Ranjith met Mr Amit Shah and sought a CBI investigation into the murder of Kathiroor Manoj in Kannur last year, sources said.
The core committee meeting held at Thycaud guest house was attended by Mr V. Muraleedharan, former state presidents O. Rajagopal, P. S. Sreedharan Pillai, P. K. Krishnadas, C. K. Padmanabhan, K. V. Sreedharan Master, vice-president M. T. Ramesh, general secretaries A. N. Radhakrishnan, K. P. Sreesan, K. R. Umakanthan, K. Subhash and K. Surendran. In the absence of Mr Shah, the evening programme was attended by Mr. Rudy and Mr H. Raja, national general secretary in charge of the state.
