Amit Shah to ensure unity in Kerala BJP; will hold meeting with leaders

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: With internal discord surfacing in the Kerala unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ahead of crucial local body and assembly elections, Union Home Minister and former BJP National President Amit Shah is set to step in to resolve the rift. Shah, who will arrive in the state today, has called a meeting of senior party leaders tomorrow afternoon. Sources suggest that stern warnings may be issued to those expressing dissent within the party.

The recent controversy stems from the exclusion of former state presidents and senior leaders like V. Muraleedharan and K. Surendran from the state leadership meeting and core committee held in Thrissur on June 26. This led to protests from within the party. Following media reports, a second core committee meeting was called on June 30 in Thiruvananthapuram, this time including both Muraleedharan and Surendran. The latter was also tasked with briefing the press about the meeting's outcomes. However, signs indicate that the internal rift has not been fully resolved.

Though Rajeev Chandrasekhar has been appointed the new state president, the list of office bearers is yet to be finalised. Normally, these appointments are made after the national president is chosen, and while the party is still awaiting that step, there are complaints that certain factions have been deliberately excluded from the proposed list. Some leaders have also expressed displeasure over the new president’s focus on non-political matters and his perceived attempts to appease Christian communities, which some fear could affect the party's performance in the upcoming local elections. In the previous local polls, the BJP had won about 1,400 wards. This time, the party has set a target of 6,000.

Amit Shah to arrive on Friday night
Amit Shah is scheduled to arrive in Thiruvananthapuram tonight around 10 PM. Tomorrow morning at 11 AM, he will inaugurate the new BJP state office building—Mararji Bhavan—located at Aristo Junction. This will be followed by a public gathering at 12:30 PM at Putharikandam Maidan, marking the official launch of the BJP’s campaign for the upcoming local body elections. Shah is expected to address over 30,000 booth-level leaders from Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, and Alappuzha districts.

He will also participate in the BJP state leadership meeting before departing at 4 PM. On his way back, he will make a stop in Kannur to visit the Rajarajeshwara Temple in Thaliparamba, before returning to Delhi later in the night.