'The BJP can tilt the balance of power in Kerala'

Manjeswaram, in northern Kerala's Kasargod district, is a unique constituency. It is an area where nearly 70 per cent of the population does not speak Malayalam, but Kannada, and the remaining 30 per cent speak half-a-dozen south Indian languages.

The Bharatiya Janata Party believes this extraordinary confluence of culture and languages makes Manjeswaram an ideal constituency for the party in next week's assembly election. One reason why the party has fielded C K Padmanabhan, its high-profile state president and Advani loyalist, for the seat.

Padmanabhan is pitted against United Democratic Front candidate and sitting MLA Cherkulam Abdullah and Communist Party of India Marxist candidate M Ramanna Rai.

In an interview to George Iype, Padmanabhan explains how he will bring saffron power to Kerala.

Kerala is the only state where the BJP has not yet opened its electoral account.

It is a fact that the BJP has not opened its account in Kerala. But that does not mean we have not grown in the state. The BJP has a very good following in the state today, comprising not just Hindus alone. There are many Christians and Muslims who are active party activists. So the BJP is the only secular party unlike the Congress and the Marxists who proclaim secularism and practice communalism in politics.

Do you think the party will win some constituencies this election?

We are confident and optimistic that we will win at least six seats for the first time in Kerala. Look at our vote share all these years. The BJP votes have determined the winners and losers in Kerala. We contested 127 seats in the 1996 assembly poll and received 5.3 per cent votes. In the 1999 Lok Sabha election, the BJP's vote share rose to 8.05 per cent.

In the last few years, we have emerged as a force to reckon with in Kerala politics. Today, the Congress and the Marxist party are afraid that BJP candidates will determine their chances in the election.

You say the BJP's share of vote will decide the electoral outcome in Kerala. But both the LDF and UDF alliances are strong and well-knit, whereas the BJP has not been able to win over any political partners from these fronts.

We are not interested in any alliance for political opportunity in Kerala. The BJP is happy and content it is growing pretty well on its own in the state. There will be a time when we will make it alone to the Kerala assembly. That time is not far away.

Which means the BJP is not interested in cobbling together an alliance in Kerala like it has done at the Centre?

You cannot compare our political strategy at the Centre with the realities in Kerala.

What are your chances in Manjeswaram?

I am hundred per cent certain that I will win from Manjeswaram. I predict that the BJP will launch its electoral account in the Kerala assembly through Manjeswaram.

Poll surveys predict the UDF will win the election defeating the LDF. What is your assessment?

The Congress and the CPI-M are the sides of the same coin for us. Both the UDF and LDF have ruled Kerala all these years. But what has happened to the state? While other states are surging ahead with challenging industrial and development programmes, Kerala lags behind pathetically. It is sad and tragic that there are no CPI-M and Congress leaders who have any vision for a literate state like Kerala.

It is alleged that the BJP is covertly supporting UDF candidates in some constituencies.

It is not true that we are supporting UDF candidates. But it is a fact that both Congress and Marxists leaders have approached us for help in the election. It just proves my argument that the BJP can tilt the balance of power in Kerala. In politics that makes all the difference.

The BJP has not fielded any candidates against high profile UDF leaders like A K Antony in Chertalai and K M Mani in Pala. Doesn't it mean you are supporting the UDF covertly in some constituencies.

You can interpret our political actions the way you want. But our ultimate aim is the defeat of both the UDF and the LDF.

Marxist leaders allege that the BJP and the RSS are resorting to political killings and violence in districts like Kannur.

Marxists in Kerala are desperate leaders who have lost their souls because Communism is no longer relevant in the world. It is this desperation that forces them to resort to killings and violence in districts like Kannur. Moreover, the fact that the BJP is growing to become a big force in Kannur has made the Marxists leaders give arms to their cadres.

It is tragic and cruel that instead of giving jobs and decent living conditions to their cadres, the Marxists are urging their workers to kill the poor and innocent in the villages. The people of Kerala will never forgive the CPI-M leadership for the barbaric killings in Kannur.

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