THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In spite of significant efforts, BJP candidate N. Sreeprakash could manage to increase his vote share only by 975 this by-election on his 2014 tally. BJP and RSS leaderships were hoping to get more than a lakh votes. But its vote share came down to 7.01 from 7.58 percent. A senior BJP leader said two days before the counting their feedback showed Mr Sreeprakash would be able to garner only between 75, 000 – 80, 000 votes. But he polled only 65, 675.
Moreover, their expectations on Hindu votes they were expecting from Mankada and Perinthalmanna assembly segments went the LDF way. “The cadre work was excellent. Of the 3.5 lakh Hindu voters, we understand only 2.75 lakh have cast their ballots. So contrary to our hope of Hindu consolidation, anti-government sentiments were running high, favouring the UDF,” said a general secretary.
State president Kummanam Rajasekharan was not available for comment as he was travelling back from Bhubaneshwar after the national executive. Another top leader denied national president Amit Shah of reprimanding them for the poor show. “This is just a temporary setback. Mr. Amit Shah is soon expected to kick off his 95-day countrywide tour with a game plan for the 2019 general elections,” another BJP top leader told DC.
