BJP cements its influence on local bodies

By Roy Mathew

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, OCT. 7. The BJP has cemented its influence in various municipalities and panchayats in the State by playing its cards cunningly in the elections of chairman and presidents respectively.

Offering its support to the Left and the Right, it exposed the hypocrisy of UDF's and LDF's professed opposition to the BJP and ensured that it will have a say in the governance of several local bodies, especially in the Central Travancore area.

The BJP's advance in the Central Travancore area was amply aided by the Kerala Congress (M). By this alliance, the BJP gained more than the Kerala Congress (M). (The Kerala Congress (M) could not make it in Kottayam Panchayat despite the alliance, as the Congress (I) outmanoeuvred it). As the tactical alliance was a give-and-take affair, the BJP actually did not gain much in terms of votes share.

In its stronghold of Kasaragod district, the party suffered a setback. It could gain the control of two panchayats in the district against the four last year. However, in Central Travancore, the BJP emerged as a decisive factor in several local bodies.

In the elections of presidents, the BJP could turn the tables on the UDF, by winning the presidentship at the Aiymanam panchayat of Kottayam district. The Congress (I) members here had voted for the BJP leader defying the directive of the district leadership. So, the Congress (I) was forced to dismantle its local unit. In Nedumkara in Pathanamtitta district, it won the presidentship with the support of the Kerala Congress (M). In return, the BJP helped the Kerala Congress (M) and its allies in the UDF to gain the control of the Thiruvalla municipality. At Kozhencheri, both shared power with the vice-presidentship going to the BJP. In the same district, the BJP helped the LDF come to power in five panchayats.

The BJP left the Muslim League in a wild predicament through its policy of tactical support. In Palakkad, it supported the LDF candidate for the presidentship. When that failed, it supported the League candidate for the vice-presidentship. The League member, thus elected, refused to take oath of office protesting against the BJP support which he did not seek. However, in Thodupuzha municipality in Idukki district, the Muslim League member was elected the chairman with BJP support. According to the BJP State Secretary, Mr. P. P. Mukundan, the UDF had sought the support of the BJP in writing in Thodupuzha. That was the case in Thiruvalla also.

In Thiruvananthapuram district, the BJP offered support to either fronts in different panchayats, but took a neutral stand at the Varkala municipality. In Kochi Corporation, the BJP's neutrality proved critical. The LDF came to power as the BJP did not support the UDF. In Kannur district, the BJP generally took no sides.

In many places, support had come for the LDF without asking for it. This has left the LDF in a predicament. The LDF presidents and office-bearers would be dependent on the BJP in carrying on with the administration of the panchayats.

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Section  : Southern States
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