‘Atmosphere in Kerala is favourable towards BJP’
NEW DELHI: Minister of state for external affairs and former BJP Kerala president V Muraleedharan speaks to
about the upcoming assembly polls in the state. Edited excerpts:
The vote share last in 2016 was around 15%; it went up in the Lok Sabha elections and then further up in the local body elections. We are now somewhere around 17%. Generally, in Kerala, the BJP’S vote share used to be the highest in the Lok Sabha followed by the local body and then the assembly. My expectation is that we will be somewhere between 17 and 20%. I have never predicted the number of seats, but the overall atmosphere in the state is favourable towards the BJP. People are disenchanted with both the Communist and the Congress. Our success will depend on the number of winnable candidates that we are able to field.
People are fed up with corruption and vote bank politics that is being practised by both the UDF and LDF. Kerala (government) seems to be propagating to the country and to the world that they are the best, but in every respect, this government has failed whether it is response to Covid-19, employment or financial management. We will definitely ensure that there is no vote bank politics, no corruption and there is transparent administration. dependent on the remittances that come from other states or other countries. Instead of that, we have to convert it into an economy which depends on manufacturing and efforts within the state.
The last time (2019 polls) when Sabarimala happened and made a huge impact, I admit that it helped the Congress because people were so angry against the Left front, they said there should be a sure shot method of defeating them and that was (voting for) the Congress. We will definitely ensure that no such vote bank politics happens now. People voted for the Congress but have understood it is no different. After the polls, they have not made any effort, now just before the elections they again raised the issue. Otherwise, the Congress is not in favour of Sabarimala or the majority community. No strategy can be successful in two elections; last time they could have benefited but I don’t think this time they will.