Kerala Polls: Former BJP leader may contest as Independent

In what could impact the BJP’s poll prospects in Kerala, its former leader, P.P. Mukundan, on Monday hinted at contesting the coming Assembly election as an Independent candidate as the state unit had failed to re-induct him despite repeated reminders by the party top brass.

Sources disclosed that a faction within the BJP’s state unit, led by former state unit chief V. Muraleedharan, is opposed to the former RSS pracharak rejoining. Mr Mukundan, a former general secretary (organisation) of the BJP’s state unit, is considered close to another faction in the party. Factionalism in the Kerala unit is a major cause of worry for the party’s central leadership.

Mr Mukundan, it is learnt, could also field other rebel candidates in Assembly constituencies where the BJP is hopeful of winning. Speculation is rife that Mr Mukundan could contest from the Assembly seat from where BJP state unit chief K. Rajashekran or senior leader O. Rajagopalam will contest. With Mr Mukundan belonging to the Nair community, speculation is rife that he could get the support of Nair Service Society (NSS), a powerful caste-based organisation. The BJP is also desperately wooing the NSS in the state. Sources disclosed that BJP national general secretary (organisation) Ramlal and other central leaders had held talks with Mr Muraleedharan in this regard last week also. But the Muraleedharan faction has been opposing Mr Mukundan’s re-induction. If Mr Mukundan contests as an Independent, it will only create more trouble for the BJP. Opinion polls have predicted that while the Left-led alliance would return to power, the BJP will manage a couple of seats.