Malappuram bypoll: Vellapally Natesan, BDJS irked over BJP candidate

Thiruvananthapuram: SNDP Yogam general secretary Vellapally Natesan and his son and BDJS president Tushar Vellappally have expressed their displeasure over the manner in which BJP decided on its candidate for Malappuram by-election. Mr Natesan threatened not to support the BJP candidate N. Sreeprakash announced by without consulting the BDJS and other allies. The two are already at odds over sharing the spoils of the Union government after the assembly elections as promised before forging an alliance.

The father lashed out at the BJP’s claim that they will win Malappuram saying UDF candidate P. K. Kunhalikutty would romp home. He went on to ridicule the leading partner to add that he would grow his moustache again if BJP wins. “State BJP leadership is like a lone wild elephant. They don’t show basic etiquette and hijack our people in the Ezhava community to eliminate the BDJS," he said. Meanwhile, his son is camping in Coimbatore where the RSS Akhil Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha (meeting of national delegates) is going on.

He is expected to meet BJP national president Amit Shah there on sharing board/corporation positions. However, BJP State president Kummanam Rajasekharan maintained that all is well between the BJP and the BDJS and other allies and all were informed of its candidate. “Sreeprakash's candidature was announced after getting the consent from all partners," he told reporters here. "Our campaigning will be kicked off on March 22 with a convention."