BJP weighs Congress gambit to provide a centrist political space for party dissidents

At least three Congress leaders appeared to open the doors for BJP cadres supposedly resentful of the party’s State leadership. Javadekar seeks to rest speculation that several leaders demanded a change in BP State leadership by stating that no one will resign

Apart from a granular analysis of the bypoll results, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) might be constrained to weigh the potential impact of Congress’s gambit in opening a “centrist” political space for party dissidents when the former’s State leadership meets for a two-day conclave in Kochi on December 7.

On Wednesday, at least three Congress leaders appeared to open the doors for BJP cadres supposedly resentful of the party’s State leadership.

For one, Congress leader and former BJP spokesperson Sandeep Varier posted on Facebook that those who abandoned the “politics of hate” would not be orphaned.

V.D. Satheesan, Leader of the Opposition, told reporters in Ernakulam that the Congress would significantly expand its political base in the State in the coming days.

In Palakkad, where the BJP seemed to face some dissension following its poor showing in the municipal areas, the party’s traditional strongholds, and over Assembly bypoll candidate selection, Congress leader and MLA-designate Rahul Mamkootathil said more “disgruntled” BJP workers would join the Opposition.

In Wayanad

Moreover, the BJP appeared to face a new challenge from the Congress in the Wayanad district. The Opposition party reportedly wooed former BJP district president K. Madhu, who announced his exit from the party on Wednesday. The BJP had removed Mr. Madhu from the district president’s post for allegedly accusing the Church of being responsible for the “belligerent” street protests in Wayanad following fatal human-wildlife conflict episodes.

The BJP has pushed back against what it viewed as an effort to portray it as a faction-riven and electorally declining political outfit. In Pathanamthitta, BJP State president K. Surendran slammed the media for “insinuating” that the party’s State leadership had a mutiny on its hands.

The BJP’s Kerala-in-charge, Prakash Javadekar, also sought to rest the speculation that a growing chorus of leaders demanded a change in the State leadership by stating that “no one will resign.”

The BJP directed party members not to make public statements about organisational affairs so as to stop the current rumblings, which arguably posed an incremental threat to internal consensus.

Moreover, a senior leader said the BJP wanted to restore the unity of purpose that made it electorally successful in the Thrissur Lok Sabha election. The BJP, he said, had prioritised consensus in the Thiruvananthapuram and Thrissur municipal Corporations, where the party felt it is in striking distance of victory.

Published - November 27, 2024 06:38 pm IST