BJP national president Amit Shah on Wednesday reviewed the status of the party’s political programmes in Kerala with the State unit president and Central leaders, to discuss the upcoming by-elections and local body elections there. The meeting was in continuity with the assessment of BJP’s progress in southern States. A similar meeting was held on Tuesday to review BJP’s political agenda in Tamil Nadu.
Shah discussed new measures that would strengthen the party organisation in the State with a BJP team, headed by State-unit president V Muralidharan. H Raja, national secretary and party incharge in the State, national general secretary Muralidhar Rao and Union Minister Rajiv Pratap Rudy also attended the meeting. “The immediate attention would be on the local body polls to be held in September,” said Raja adding the party’s membership in Kerala has reached a good 20 lakh.
The byeelection at Aruvikkara figured in the talks. The party is considering the bye-election as the first major election in the State after the BJP came to power at the Centre. The discussion with Kerala leaders included preparation for forthcoming Assembly elections, due next year. BJP has, so far, not won a single seat in the State Assembly.
Despite this, the current leadership at the Centre is seeking to raise the bar for the party unit in Kerala by attacking the left and Congress for their alleged corruption and maladministration. Shah is trying to strengthen local units in States where the party does not have enough political influence. He will also meet with Telangana and Seemandhra State leaders.