Dropping a clear hint that the Bharath Dharma Jana Sena (BDJS) would soon sever its ties with the BJP and the National Democratic Alliance, party leader and Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana Yogam general secretary Vellappally Natesan called on Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan at his official residence on Tuesday evening.
The meeting assumes significance in the wake of the BDJS decision to abstain from the programmes of the NDA and also the Kerala Raksha Yatra planned by the BJP against “CPI(M) violence” from October first week. Rumours were rife that the party had already opened the vestibule for parleys with the United Democratic Front.
Aggrieved over the BJP national leadership’s alleged neglect and laxity in honouring the commitments given from time to time, the BDJS is reported to be exploring all political options. Though dubbed as a courtesy call, sources said the party was keen on drifting to one of the fronts in search of better fortunes.
BDJS president Thushar Vellappally dismissed the reports as mere rumours, but reiterated that its relations with the BJP had ruptured beyond repair and party functionaries were sore over the way they were being cold-shouldered by the BJP.
“The BJP has not honoured any of the assurances given during the past one-and-a-half years. The State committee meeting this month-end will decided whether we should accept any positions, if at all given to us again. But we have not yet decided to review our ties or quit the alliance,” he said.
Though Mr. Thushar has denied of having held any discussions with either fronts, it has almost become clear that the BDJS leaders were attempting to have negotiations with the rival fronts and the chances of quitting the NDA are being seriously explored.
The Cabinet berth offered to K.J. Alphons is the latest provocation for the BDJS. The BJP national leadership has chosen to neglect the claims of the BDJS and also dashed the hopes of a section of its senior State leaders who were hoping to find a place in the Cabinet rejig before the Lok Sabha elections.
Other than the lacklustre performance of the BJP State unit, its inefficiency in taking forward the alliance as a cohesive whole and emerging as the main Opposition in the State are understood to have prompted national president Amit Shah and others to ignore the claims for prime positions in boards and corporations and also a Cabinet berth.
The BJP national leadership remains nonchalant and is in no mood to assuage the BDJS by making fresh assurances. It deems the latest moves as a bid to bargain for a better deal and wants the party to prove its worth before staking claims for positions.
The BJP State leadership is reported to be pleading helpless as its own claims have not been considered by the central leaders so far. A clear picture would emerge in the coming week, sources said.
