Scam charges, infighting dog Kerala BJP

For decades, it was a puzzle before the central leadership of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) that despite having a large number of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) shakhas (5,000 at present), more than in some states where the party rules, Kerala was unable to transform these into votes.

It had seemed the party was slowly gathering momentum. Its vote share rose from 6.1 per cent in 2011 to 15 per cent in 2016. Now, however, corruption charges against its leaders, factionalism and “unleashing of violence by the CPM”, as a continuation of the clashes between both the cadre parties that started in the late 1960s, seem to have again hit its chances.

The leaking of an internal enquiry report about the Medical Council of India (MCI) scam involving party leaders has dented its image. According to media reports, the probe found BJP cooperative cell convenor R S Vinod had accepted ~5- 6

crore from an R Shaji, chairman of the Varkala-based SR Educational and Charitable Trust, for getting clearance from MCI for his medical college.

“This is a case of cheating by one individual and has nothing to do with the party,” B Gopalakrishnan, state party secretary, told Business Standard.

There were also allegations against local leaders that bribes of up to ~4 lakh were allegedly taken for allotting outlets under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Aushadhi scheme. The Prime Minister’s Office has reportedly ordered an enquiry.

In addition to some extortion charges against local leaders, two Yuva Morcha leaders from Thrissur were arrested with fake currency notes worth lakhs and a currency-minting machine. The state leadership is seeing these incidents as misuse of power by certain individuals.

“The target of the BJP to capture 20 per cent votes in Kerala is never going to be achieved, especially after the current corruption charges. Kerala has a tradition of secularism and not communal violence as professed by RSS and BJP,” said M A Baby, a CPM leader and politbureau member.

BJP leaders say such issues are coming out due to factionalism within the party. A party insider says a struggle between former presidents P K Krishnadas and V Muraleedharan are harming the BJP like never before.

Another challenge is the increasing number of attacks on party members. According to media reports, in the past year, 14 people lost their lives in political clashes, of which 10 were from the BJP. Political clashes have claimed close to 200 lives from both parties since 2000.

“The history of clashes between the Left and the RSS is nothing new as far as Kannur is concerned; as it started in the 1960s. However, the death of a BJP worker in T hi ru van ant ha pu ram is indicating that violence is spreading to other parts of the state ,” said BR PB h ask ar, a veteran journalist and political analyst.

“CPM is against spirituality. Hence, we believe that minorities, 45 per cent of the population, will soon join hands with the BJP,” said Gopalakrishnan. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP national head, Amit Shah, had a series of recent meetings with minority and Dalit leaders in the state during recent visits.

The state wing believes Modi’s image will attract more youth, as only seven per cent of the CPM’s members come below 25 years of age. However, party leaders agree, they do need to set their house in order.