THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The BJP is trying to give a tough fight in Malappuram where the result of the Lok Sabha by-election is a foregone conclusion. It has fielded Malappuram district vice-president N. Sreeprakash with the aim of capturing the 30 percent Hindu votes, though initially the leadership had wanted to put up Mr Badusha Thangal so as to split the Muslim votes. However, the RSS leadership was firm on Mr Sreeprakash who had come third in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.
A section of core committee leaders had wanted to field a state leader instead of a local leader. Mr O. Rajagopal recommended general secretary Sobha Surendran. However, he did not get much support. “General secretary A. N. Radhakrishnan too was keen to contest, but Kummanam rejected it and plunged for Badusha Thangal. But the RSS state leadership did not yield,” said a top BJP leader. The BJP hopes to increase its vote share of 7. 58 percent polled in 2014. Hindu votes matter in the seven Assembly constituencies due to Mr Sreeprakash’s acceptability.
