KOZHIKODE: BJP leaders in Kerala are upbeat after the three-day conclave of national leaders that concluded here on Sunday. The national leadership took the opportunity to unleash a scathing attack on the CPM with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and national president Amit Shah taking the lead.The state leaders are still busy as Mr Shah is staying back for another day. At the concluding session, Mr Modi and Mr Shah reminded the party leaders of the need for a wider debate on political violence here.
They even released a souvenir, Aahuti - the Untold Stories of Sacrifice in Kerala, in English conceived and edited by Sanju Sadanandan and B. Nirupama. National organising general secretary Ramlal said more than 180 political murders had taken place in Kannur. State president Kummanam Rajasekharan told DC that the leaders spoke with statistics after getting adequate information from the fact-finding team led by Rajya Sabha MP Bhupendra Chauhan that visited Kannur and Thiruvananthapuram districts recently.
Mr Chauhan also told DC that he would be visiting the state soon for a follow-up study on Kannur violence. “Both Mr Modi and Mr Shah spoke after they were convinced of what's happening in Kannur. CPM has been preventing our growth. Day by day the violence in Kannur is increasing,” said Mr Rajasekharan. He said the conclave had been a huge success as he along with his team could show their strength to thousands of party leaders who had come from across the country.
He dedicates the success to his team and supporters as well as the people of Kerala. “The national council was being held in Kozhikode after 50 years. We could show to the whole country that Kerala BJP leadership could organise the show meticulously,” said an elated Mr Rajasekharan. But he and his team have got a tough job ahead to start preparing the list of candidates the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
On Monday, Mr Shah is holding a meeting of NDA allies and also the BJP core committee at Kadavu Resort here. He is expected to give an action plan to the state leadership to gear up for the general elections two years away. All the NDA allies including BDJS president Tushar Vellappally, C.K. Janu of Janadhipathya Rashtriya Sabha, Kerala Congress led by P. C. Thomas and the JSS faction led by Rajan Babu will also be attending the meeting.
Meanwhile on Sunday, Mr Vellappally and Ms Janu attended the BJP's national council meeting and had Onam feast along with Mr Modi, Mr Shah and a plethora of national leaders. Mr Modi and his team of senior leaders had a sumptuous sadya with over 100 curries on plantain leaves the traditional Kerala way. BJP sources told DC that there were five payasams.
Mr Shah read out Deendayal Upadhyaya birth centenary year resolution where he exhorted the delegates to work towards the welfare of the poor as per the principles of Antyodaya in tune with the objectives of the Ekatma Manav Darshan. Amidst the chanting of Bharat Mata Ki Jai, the national president along with Mr Modi and veteran leaders L.K. Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi released the logo of the year-long birth centenary celebrations. They also unveiled a bust of the iconic leader of Jan Sangh, the previous avatar of the BJP, at the concluding session.
