Thiruvananthapuram: The recent controversies surrounding Mahila Morcha state secretary Smitha Menon have given fresh ammunition for the rival faction to target Union Minister of State V Muraleedharan and his supporters in BJP. But Muraleedharan and BJP state president K Surendran has trivialised the allegations.
The row was triggered after it emerged that Smitha Menon had taken part in the meeting of the Indian Ocean Rim Association at Abu Dhabi two years ago to prepare the PR reports. Union Minister of State for External Affairs Muraleedharan and other diplomatic representatives had taken part in the international conference.
Allegations have been raised that the Minister's invitation to Smitha for the diplomatic event is a protocol violation. The Centre is already probing the allegations of protocol violation against Kerala Minister KT Jaleel.
The CPM and its cyber wing have latched on to this opportunity. And the Loktantrik Janata Dal has filed a complaint to the Union government.
Also, Smitha was made the Mahila Morcha state secretary after Surendran became the BJP state president. This did not augur well with a section of the party, widening the rift. It was alleged that Smitha, who was not in the forefront of the party or the Mahila Morcha earlier, suddenly became the Morcha state secretary as she had the backing of Muraleedharan.
PK Krishnadas faction
The Krishnadas faction has not raised the allegations of protocol violation against Muraleedharan. But general secretary M T Ramesh voiced his displeasure, by claiming that he came to know about Smitha only after she became the state secretary of Mahila Morcha.
The faction is using the issue to weaken Muraleedharan's clout within the party and feeder units. Their aim is to prompt the national leadership to intervene and give fair treatment for both factions. There is also resentment over Shobha Surendran, a national executive member, being side-lined and instead of giving preference to people like Smitha.
V Muraleedharan faction
While claiming that allegations of protocol violations were just a tit-for-tat ploy by the Left, the Muraleedharan faction claims that nobody in the BJP is unduly concerned about this. The leaders of the faction explained that Smitha, who is from a pro-Sangh Parivar family, has been made the Morcha state secretary as part of a move to bring more professionals in leadership roles. The faction denied allegations of side-lining Shoba Surendran, who has contested in all elections in the recent past. But others should also be given opportunities, they added.
What Smitha says
Smitha Menon denied any protocol violation by taking part in the Abu Dhabi meet.
"I have been operating a PR agency in Kochi since 2007. Me and my family have close ties with BJP leaders, including V Muraleedharan. I went to Abu Dhabi meet as part of my job. Though I went with Muraleedharan's permission, I paid for the flight tickets. There is no protocol violation in that or nothing to hide. K Surendran considered me for the Mahila Morcha post considering my ties with the Sangh Parivar and the contributions I can make as a PR professional,” she added.
Smitha further said that she would seek legal action against those targeting her family.
