Suresh Gopi demand gives BJP headache

In election-bound Kerala, the BJP is facing a peculiar problem regarding one of its star campaigners and Malayalam superstar Suresh Gopi. The actor has apparently put a condition before the BJP leadership.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the “most sought-after star campaigners” of the BJP in the state, will start campaigning in Kerala after May 1 and the Malayalam cinestar will be sharing the stage with him and other top brass of the BJP, including party president Amit Shah, during campaigning.

Mr Gopi, it was learnt, wants the re-induction of former general secretary (organisation) and RSS man P.P. Mukundan in the saffron party. Mr Mukundan had to quit the organisational post in 2006 due to infighting. But he still has a major support base among the BJP cadre, who wants him back in the saffron fold.

The actor, sources disclosed, also took up the matter with BJP state unit chief Kummanam Rajashekharan.

Both Mr Gopi and Mr Mukundan belong to the Nair community, which constitutes around 15 per cent of the total population of this southern state.

However, a influential section within the BJP’s Kerala unit has been blocking Mr Mukundan’s reinduction. This section is said to be led by former state unit chief V. Muraleedharan. However, another section in the BJP state unit is of the view that the reinduction of Mr Mukundan will only send out a positive message to the Nairs. Polling is scheduled in Kerala on May 16.

Apparently, the powerful caste-based organisation, Nair Service Society (NSS), with whom the BJP was desperately trying for a pre-poll alliance, also wanted Mr Mukundan back in the BJP fold.