Thushar Vellappally and Kummanam RajasekharanKozhikode: Amid speculations about troubles in relationship between the BJP and Bharat Dharma Jana Sena (BDJS) in Kerala, Thushar Vellapalli, who heads the latter, has been appointed the convener of the NDA's state unit.
State BJP president Kummanem Rajasekhran is the chairman of the BJP-led front while businessman Rajeev Chandrasekhar, a Rajya Sabha MP from Karnataka, has been appointed its vice chairman.
The appointment of Thushar sends out a message that there is no rift between the BJP and the BDJS. This is at a time when Thushar and his father Vellappally Natesan, who heads the SNDP Yogam, were voicing differing opinions about the BDJS' relationship with the BJP. The BDJS was formed ahead of the assembly polls and NDA was able to make huge inroads into Kerala's political sphere which had been traditionally dominated by the CPM-led LDF and Congress-led UDF.
Speaking about the appointment, Chandrasekhar said he always felt Kerala's politics needed a strong alternative.
"An alternative political front based on equitable development for all, including the many lakhs of downtrodden, as well as opportunities for the youth. The National Democratic Alliance with its rapidly growing vote share and popularity is that alternative", said Chandrasekhar, chairman of Asianet TV channel.
The names of the new committee were announced in Delhi, soon after Bharatiya Janata Party president Amit Shah met with leaders of the allies of the BJP in Kerala.
Prime minister Narendra Modi also attended the national council meeting on Saturday and Sunday.
Monday was the last day of the meeting that began on Friday and was attended by all the top leaders of the BJP.
This is the first time that Chandrasekhar, who is a Keralite settled in Bengaluru, has been given a party post in Kerala.
(With agency inputs)
