Kerala BJP to strengthen base ahead of 2019 Lok Sabha polls

Thiruvananthapuram: A meeting of the BJP's core committee here on Friday decided to initiate steps to strengthen the party's base at the grassroots levels as a prelude to the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

BJP national president Amit Shah, who is scheduled to visit the state from June 2 to 4 as part of his 95-day national tour, will participate in 21 meetings in three days.

State president Kummanam Rajasekharan told reporters that Mr. Shah would reach Kochi on June 2 and attend party programmes there. On  June 3 and 4 he would be in Thiruvananthapuram and meet the core committee, NDA and BJP leaders. He would also meet booth-level workers as part of chalking out action plans for preparing the party for the Lok Sabha polls. A meeting with many prominent personalities from various sectors would  also be held.

He  will  lay foundation stone for the new building for the party headquarters near Thampanoor on June 4.

Mr. Kummanam  opposed the  SBI decision to impose  service charges on the customers. Such steps would distance the bank from the common man who had earlier welcomed centre's demonetisation drive.

He also said that a clear picture of land encroachments in the state would  emerge once the ongoing land auditing by the accountant-general was over.