THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The BJP is portraying itself as secular with a developmental outlook by fielding 11 candidates from the minority communities to the city corporation.
The BJP has given seats to two Muslim women for the first time and one of them from Punchakkari has been an active worker of Mahila Morcha for a decade.
Aneesha Beevi, 38, of Punchakkari ward is the wife of BJP worker Ayyappan, and S.N. Nazila, 31, from Puthenpally ward is the wife of BJP worker Subhash.
While Beevi is upbeat about the positive response she gets from voters, Nazila, a postgraduate in English Literature, hints there is pressure mounting against her.
While a handful of VSDP nominees are contesting from Nadar Christian strongholds, local issues have tempted candidates from other Christian sects to opt for BJP.
As per Telma Xavier, who is contesting on BJP ticket in Kottapuram, the family politics in Congress and an irreparably weak LDF at her ward made her look for a third alternative.
“The UDF seat has been kept as a monopoly of sitting councillor Gladis Alex’s family. On the other hand the candidate fielded by LDF has no politics of her own and was roped in from the Congress. The LDF candidate is so fickle minded that she had resigned from positions in church committee and Kudumbashree within months,” she says.
“We have issues like water scarcity to address and a pro-development BJP has the potential to be a strong third front,” said Telma Xavier.
Apart from anti-incumbency factor in Kottapuram, Mrs Xavier expects votes from relatives and friends and Hindu votes.
Jelestin (Vizhinjam), Ivi (Beemapally East), Thresiamma Joosa Silva (Valiyathura), L. Jossie Catherin (Palayam), Thankachi (Pallithura), M. Satheesh, (Poonthura) and Mohanan (Mulloor) are the BJP’s other Christian faces.
During the last local body elections, the BJP had fielded a lone Christian candidate, Dennison from Punchakkari.
As per BJP district president S. Suresh, the development agendas of his party cuts across religion and caste.
“During the recent parliamentary elections, we did ‘Theeradeshayatra’ from Poundukadavu to Poovar and the response was beyond expectations. So we now hope for good results in the coastal wards also,” he said.
