BDJS is thorn in BJP's side as leaders keep hopes

Thiruvananthapuram: As Loksabha elections are near, BJP leaders of Kerala are pinning hopes. However, they are disturbed by BDJS-caused ruckus. The leaders who are consistent players in state and Lok Sabha elections are in the fray this time too.  This trend was visible in the core committee meeting held at Thrissur on Thursday.

Factionalism is a challenge for some of them. Things are going towards dividing seats between the groups.  Earlier, BJP had its own candidates for most of the constituencies. This time, however, BDJS is claiming eight seats. Irrespective of groups, BJP leaders are against giving that many seats for BDJS. It is learnt that the participants expressed their strong opinion against the move as PS Sreedharan Pillai informed the gathering that at least six seats will have to be given to Thushar Vellapally's party.

As of now, BJP is willing to concede Alathur, Alappuzha, Idukki, and Kozhikode seats to BDJS and Kottayam seat to Kerala Congress (PC Thomas faction).  The common mood in the party is to have its own candidates in Thiruvananthapuram, Thrissur, Kasargode, Palakkad and Pathanamthitta as the party sets much store by them.  Former DGP TP Senkumar is being tipped for Attingal.  Other candidates put forward by various factions are MT Ramesh in Pathanamthitta, Shobha Surendran in Palakkad, AN Radhakrishnan or K. Surendran in Thrissur, K. Surendran in Kasargode.