THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The faction-ridden BJP and RSS state leaderships have not found anything to celebrate in the appointment of Mr Alphons Kannanthanam as union minister of state with independent charge of tourism and IT. There was no eruption of joy in the party unlike during 1999- 2004 when BJP leader O. Rajagopal was made the union minister of state for railways. Mr Kannanthanam’s elevation came as a total surprise to the state leaders who were expecting a call from Mr Modi.
The only response to Mr Kannanthanam’s berth was a Facebook post by state BJP president Kummanam Rajasekharan saying it was an Onam gift to Malayalis. Also Mr N. Harikumar, Kottayam district president of BJP, took out a procession in Mr Kannanthanam’s home town, Manimala. “The explanation by the state BJP leaders that they could not organise any processions hailing Mr Kannanthanam because of the festive season is not convincing,” said a former BJP state president. It may be recalled that in the 2014 Lok Sabah polls, the RSS had spoiled his bid to seek election from Pathanamthitta and chosen BJP state general secretary M. T. Ramesh because of some issues with the Believers’ Church.
Mr Ramesh came third while Congress leader Anto Antony won with over 3.58 lakh votes. The state RSS leadership wanted to field Mr Kannanthanam from Kanjirapally Assembly constituency in 2016, but he snubbed it saying he did not want to be confined to regional politics. Mr Kannanthanam has been based in New Delhi. “A local leader, V. N. Manoj, was fielded from Kanjirapally and he secured 31, 411 votes. Kannanthanam would have done better,” said a BJP leader. It is learnt that Mr Kummanam and his team are planning a damage-control exercise by holding a reception for Mr Kannanthanam when he comes to the state soon.
