‘Metro Man’ Sreedharan to join BJP, contest polls
The BJP in Kerala received a shot in the arm ahead of crucial Assembly polls with “Metro Man” E. Sreedharan announcing his decision to join the party.
The 88-year-old legendary engineer is set to join the BJP during the party’s “Vijay Yatra” which will be flagged off by Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath in Kasargod on Sunday.
"I am joining the BJP with the belief that I will be able to do something for the state. I am not interested in becoming governor.
“The LDF and UDF are not able to do anything for the development of the state. They are only going for confrontation with the Centre. Kerala lacks an investor-friendly environment,” he told media persons.
The BJP in Kerala received a shot in the arm ahead of crucial Assembly polls with ‘Metro Man’ E Sreedharan announcing his decision to join the party.
The 88-year-old legendary engineer is set to join the BJP during the party’s Vijay Yatra which will be flagged off by Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath in Kasargod on Sunday.
“I am joining the BJP with the belief that I will be able to do something for the state. I am not interested in becoming Governor. The LDF and UDF are not able to do anything for the development of the state. They are only going for confrontation with the Centre. Kerala lacks an investor-friendly environment,” he told media persons. “I have a good name in Kerala. I enjoy the goodwill of people. If a person like me joins BJP more people will get attracted and join the party,” he said.
Notwithstanding the fact that leaders of his age in BJP are now mainly confined to the “marg darshak mandal”, the party is likely to make an exception for fielding him in the forthcoming Assembly polls.
The ‘Metro Man’ said the decision to join BJP was not taken hurriedly.
“For the past ten years I have been in Kerala. I viewed the state from close quarters. I find that most political parties are shying
away from working for the state. Instead they are prompted by their party and organisational interests,” he said.
The architect of Konkan Railway and Delhi Metro which changed the face of public transport in the country, played a major role in starting metro rail in Jaipur, Lucknow and Kochi subsequently. After retirement from Delhi metro in 2011, he has been confined to his native place Ponnani in Malappuram district.
Sreedharan says he has many plans for the development of the state. Though he worked closely with the LDF government on a couple of projects, the veteran feels that the left rule has not been up to the mark. He believes only the BJP can usher in the required development.
The metro man disclosed that he had discussed his ideas of development of Kerala with the state BJP leaders. Most of his ideas would be incorporated in the BJP manifesto for Kerala polls.