Amit Shah to visit Kerala seeking new friends

KOTTAYAM: Kerala politics is set to witness a polarisation following the visit of BJP national president Amit Shah here in the first week of February. With the morale of the UDF Government in an all-time low and the Opposition LDF failing to capitalise on it, the BJP National leadership is hoping to gain new friends here with the Assembly polls in the offing.
It will be the stand of Kerala Congress (M) that will be keenly watched in the changing equations in the state politics when Shah arrives here.Party Chairman K M Mani had already expressed that he is not averse in shaking hands with the BJP.
When asked about Shah visiting Kottayam, Mani reacted by saying that he is happy that Shah is visiting Kottayam. "If I happen to see Shah in Government Guest House here, I will greet him. My wish is that he should come to Kottayam," he said. Mani however, stopped there and did not open his mind further.
Meanwhile, CPM sees the move of K M Mani as one to threaten Oommen Chandy to get back ministerial berth. "By threatening to meet Amit Shah, Mani is blackmailing Chandy and UDF leadership", said CPM state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan.
For Kerala Congress (M), the main reason they could project for joining the BJP fold will be a solution for the rubber crisis offered by the Centre. Shah is expected to arrive here with a "Rubber package" to please the Kerala Congress (M) leadership. The District leadership is kept in the dark about the plans as the strategy has been worked out by the state president Kummanam Rajasekaharan and the National leadership of the party.
Meanwhile, the district leadership of the party said that they are unaware of a meeting of Amit Shah with Mani. "Amitji has got around four meetings in Ernakulam. We don't know the details," said N Hari, BJP District President.
Hari also said that District leadership of the party has no issues in welcoming Mani who had to resign as the minister following the bar bribery allegation. "Bribery allegation was against Mani and not against the party. We are looking at the party only and not at the individual," said Hari.
Amit Shah is also expected to hold talks with some religious leaders in Ernakulam on February 3, the day he arrives in the state. The district leaders are also unaware about Amit Shah holding talks with the NSS leadership. 'NSS is having good relationship with the BJP. NSS General Secretary Sukumaran Nair has no issues with the BJP. He has issues only with some individuals in the party," said Hari.
As per the programme schedule of Amit Shah received by the District leadership here, the leader is to arrive in Kottayam from Ernakulam by 4pm on February 4 and will address the public meeting and will leave by 5pm.