Thiruvananthapuram: Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered best wishes to BJP Chengannur candidate P. S. Sreedharan Pillai coinciding with his 101st book release held at Parliament on Wednesday. Modi handed over the copy of the book, Dark Days of Democracy to Marthoma Delhi diocese head, Gregorios Mar Stephanos Episcopa.
Sreedharan Pillai had sent a copy of his book to the PM a few weeks ago when he got the confirmation from the PMO to be in Delhi on Wednesday.
He told DC that the PM was happy with the book which highlighted the Emergency’s history and the protest against it in Kerala.
“The PM agreed to release the book after he read it. He wished me good luck on the run-up to the Chengannur by-election”, said Sreedharan Pillai.
The BJP camp is excited because the Marthoma Delhi head Gregorios Mar Stephanos Episcopa himself received the book from the Prime Minister.
A senior BJP leader told DC that Chengannur Assembly constituency has got a sizable population of Christians, especially those belonging to Marthoma. In fact this community is the largest there. The book was released coinciding with the 41st anniversary of the Emergency being withdrawn on March 21.
Meanwhile, the BJP leaders' plan to meet national president Amit Shah did not work as he got busy with other meetings related to the Karnataka Assembly elections. Apart from Sreedharan Pillai, other leaders who are camping in New Delhi include State president Kummanam Rajasekharan and former BJP State president and national executive member P. K. Krishnadas.
The trio is expected to meet Amit Shah and national organising general secretary Ramlal on Thursday and is expected to apprise them against Rajya Sabha-designate V. Muraleedharan who expressed his displeasure against seeking the support of Kerala Congress (Mani) in Chengannur by-election.
“The trio will be urging the national BJP leadership to settle the long standing demands of BDJS. We are hoping that their grievances will be addressed within this week”, said a senior BJP leader.
