Thiruvananthapuram: The poor response to the Janaraksha yatra taken out by BJP state chief Kummanam Rajasekharan and the setback to the party in the Vengara byelection have put a question mark on the credibility and efficacy of the state leadership. A section of leaders has already complained to Mr B. L. Santhosh, organising joint national general secretary, about the style of functioning of the top leaders.
Senior party leaders, who were sidelined in the appointment of district presidents early last year, are a discontented lot. They have kept away from party activities, including the Janaraksha Yatra. Their grouse was that certain district presidents like N. K. Mohandas were ‘air dropped’ from Sangh Parivar organisation and leaders like S. Suresh (Thiruvananthapuram) and A. Nagesh (Thrissur) were given a second term.
“The BJP brought in young blood ignoring senior leaders. There should be a balance between experience and youth,” a senior BJP leader told DC.
Mr Kummanam’s yatra had to rely on central leaders who made controversial comments. BJP candidate K. Janachandran Master could get only 5, 728 votes in Vengara where there are 26, 000 Hindu votes.
“Janaraksha Yatra’s slogan was against jihadi forces, but the CPM cashed in on it and secured the Hindu votes. The BJP leadership should study the setback and the reasons for the lacklustre Janaraksha Yatra, except in Kannur and Thiruvnanthapuram,” said another senior BJP leader.
