Vellapally's party begins talks with BJP

Alappuzha: The first round of talks between the Kerala unit of the BJP and Vellapalli Natesan's newly-floated political party for working together took place on Saturday at the Hindu Ezhava leader's residence here.

Newly appointed state BJP president Kummanam Rajasekheran and his predecessor V. Muraleedharan were engaged in the talks with Natesan.

"There is no untouchability towards the BJP and the people of Kerala are certainly looking for a change. Talks will continue and would now be held at different levels," Natesan told reporters.

However, a formal announcement of the the two parties working together is yet to come.

On December 5, Natesan concluded his statewide yatra (tour) and launched his political party, Bharath Dharma Jana Sena (BDJS), at a public meeting in the state capital.

Saturday's developments came after state BJP leaders took the lead for a meeting between BJP national president Amit Shah and Natesan a few months back, which paved the way for the leader's meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Earlier this month, Modi obliged Natesan by flying down to Kollam on his first visit to the state after assuming office, to unveil a statue of former chief minister R. Shankar.

The BJP is yet to open its account in the 140-member Kerala assembly.

For Natesan too it will be testing times, as till now he had maintained a distance from politics.