No such decision to make Vellapally Natesan CM candidate for 2016 says BJP

Speculations over a possible alliance between Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalalana yogam (SNDP) in Kerala have gathered momentum after SNDP General Secretary Vellappally Natesan met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday.

 

Adding fuel to the fire, there were media reports that for the 2016 assembly elections, Natesan is likely to be the chief ministerial candidate of a BJP-lead alliance in Kerala and this has already been suggested by the central leadership of the party.

 

However BJP state leadership rubbished the rumours. 

 

“It is just a rumour created by media; there are no facts in it. Natesan met Prime Minister only to invite him for a function. CM candidature will not and cannot be decided in such a private meeting,” MT Ramesh, BJP state Vice President told The News Minute.

 

He also informed that SNDP-BJP alliance is just a possibility and the party has not taken any official decision on it.

 

Though both the BJP state committee and SNDP stress that the meeting with Modi is to invite him for unveiling the statue of former Chief Minister R Shanker, media reports attribute political motives to the meeting.

 

However an array of political leaders including Opposition leader VS Achuthanandan, Congress leader VM Sudheeran and Nair Service Society (NSS) leader Sukumaran Nair have heavily criticised Natesan for leaning towards the BJP.

 

Meanwhile there were also reports that BJP did a secret survey in Kerala to find out the party’s influence in the state. As per reports, the survey results were depressing for the party and that is why they are reportedly seeking an alliance with SNDP.

 

But MT Ramesh rubbished the reports and said that it is so stupid to see a national party like this.

 

“No such surveys were held. We have good confidence in the coming elections that a good majority has now decided to change,” he said.

 

Plagued by factional issues, a decision to make an outside leader as its CM face for the elections, will be an important decision for the BJP.