Cong seeks to capitalise on Kerala BJP infighting; woos disgruntled leaders

PTI Palakkad (Kerala): Amidst the rift in Kerala BJP over the party’s loss in the Palakkad Assembly by-poll, the Congress on Tuesday tried to cash in on the opportunity by inviting dissident leaders of the saffron party to its fold. The displeasure openly expressed by the Chairperson and many councillors of the BJP-ruled Palakkad Municipality over the selection of C Krishnakumar as the party candidate in the Assembly by-poll, prompted the grand old party to make the political move.

The district leadership of the Congress made it clear that if the BJP councillors wish to renounce Hindutva and embrace the Congress ideology, they would be welcomed. Senior Congress leader and Palakkad MP, V K Sreekandan and DCC president A Thankappan extended the invitation through the media. However, they said they didn’t hold any talks with any of the BJP councillors in this regard, and the matter would be taken up only after they expressed willingness to quit the saffron party. Thankappan said the BJP councillors are yet to spell out their stand in this regard. “We can take a call (on inviting them) only when they say clearly, like Sandeep G Varier, that they cannot adjust with the ideology of the BJP anymore and they believe in the ideology of the Congress,” he told media. The DCC president, however, made it clear that the Congress party is already strong and it does not need anyone from outside to strengthen it.

But if anyone expresses their desire to join the Congress, they would not be kept waiting at the doorstep. The portals of the party would be thrown open for them, he added. Meanwhile, BJP leader and party candidate in the Palakkad by-poll, Krishnakumar rejected the reports of discontentment among BJP councillors in the district and said some of them reacted emotionally on Monday, and now they were convinced of the party stand. He was replying to a question about the criticism by the party’s municipal chairperson, Prameela Sasidharan, about the candidate selection.