iding on its successful membership drive, the national BJP leadership is working out a massive package for Kerala, including the sop of a huge financial package and a possible representation for the State in the Union Cabinet before the three-tier local body polls slated for October.
Sources say the multi-crore cash package being pushed is likely to be unlike the ones announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the States of Jammu and Kashmir and Bihar.
This one may be tailored to suit areas and segments considered to be the party’s emerging Hindu vote-bank in Kerala all the more.
The BJP State leadership has already given its inputs on the long-pending Sabarimala package and on setting up an International University at Sivagiri. This apart, this list on the drawing board also has a package for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
Previously, the State party unit had asked the Centre to provide a whopping Rs.35,000 crore assistance to be spread across the entire State. But this was shot down by its national president Amit Shah during his visit to Kerala.
In Kerala, sources said, the party has identified 40 Assembly seats out of the 100-odd segments having a Hindu majority where it could fare well. It has targeted 16 segments for the 2016 Assembly polls.
Speculations are rife in the State party that Kerala would find a berth in the Narendra Modi Cabinet in the next reshuffle. But there is still no clarity on whether the mantle will fall on a party functionary from the State, or an outsider such as actor Suresh Gopi who has lately become an aspirant for a ministerial berth.
The sources, however, add that in any case, the pick would be made only with the concurrence of the Rashtriya Sweyamsevak Sangh (RSS) which is rapidly expanding its organisational network and taking more control of the BJP in the State.
One of the contenders is State president V. Muraleedharan. But how the RSS would take this proposal is also unclear as the organisation had earlier put its foot down when Mr. Modi had shuffled his Cabinet.
