BJP to raise chopper deal issue during campaigning in Kerala

BJP is planning to corner the Congress-led UDF over the AgustaWestland chopper deal case during campaigning in the May 16 assembly polls in Kerala.
"The issue of bribes in the chopper deal that was inked during UPA regime is going to be a major point for debate in the coming days," BJP State President Kummanom Rajasekharan told PTI in an interview in the midst of campaigning here today.
Rajasekharan took a jibe at former Defence Minister A K Antony, saying the "senior Congress leader from the state, who is described as an apostle with clean image, will have to explain".

The VVIP chopper deal issue has rocked Parliament with BJP targeting Congress Chief Sonia Gandhi asking her to name the bribe takers in the Rs 3,600 crore chopper deal.
Antony is scheduled to launch his campaign in Kerala for the UDF candidates from May 1.
Though BJP is yet to open its account in the state, Rajasekharan claimed that there is strong anger against both UDF and CPI-M led LDF, and a "mass people's movement in favour of BJP."

"This is evident in all the constituencies," Rajasekharan, the party candidate from Vattiyourkavu, near here, said.
BJP is making all efforts this time to break the bipolar politics of UDF and LDF.

"BJP's strength in the state is growing and that is the main reason both the fronts are attacking us. BJP has grown as a political alternative to both the fronts. The vote share BJP got during the civic polls was the base of the party," he said.
He said that NDA's base has increased following alliance with Bharat Dharma Janasena, party formed by Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana Yogam, an outfit of backward Ezhava community, along with some small parties.
"BJP's focus will be on the 'stagnation in development' due to the defective policies pursued by successive governments of both fronts," he said.

Rajasekharan, who has led several agitations on
environmental issues before taking over as BJP chief, said the present heat wave experienced by the state was due to "imperfect policies".
"We are not able to protect the environment."
"Kerala gets heavy rain, but the state has drinking water shortage," he pointed out.
"We should have concrete plans to preserve and protect the rivers, water bodies and water resources and also scared groves.... Our mission is to have such a developed Kerala."
Rejecting the charge of Congress and CPI(M) that the saffron party has communal and divisive policies, the BJP chief said both these "parties are scared as we have become a strong force to reckon with in Kerala. BJP is the only party that challenges both the Fronts. The increase in the vote share of BJP virtually weakens Congress and CPI-M in Kerala."

"This joint attack on BJP is an indication of expected changes in political equations in the state after the polls."
Taking a dig at Congress and CPI-M for the tie-up in West Bengal, Rajasekharan said "you must have seen that Congress Vice-president Rahul Gandhi and CPI-M leader Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee led the campaign in WB together."
"However, when they reach Kerala, both parties become enemies and fight each other...Their enmity in the state is only a big drama and fake."
"For these parties, NDA has become a headache," he said.
Both these fronts would disintegrate after polls as political equations are going to change, he claimed and added "that is why they are attacking us as communal and divisive."

"We can reply if they point out an incident that is communal and divisive. They are just generalising issues."
BJP undertook a month-long 'Kerala Vimochana Yatra' by taking up issues connected with people of the state.
"Is there is any single reference related to issues of communal or divisive policies made during the yatra?.. Nothing of that sort has happened," Rajasekharan added.
Rajasekharan said campaigning would reach its zenith with the arrival of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other Central leaders next month.
On the recent nomination of popular actor Suresh Gopi from the state to Rajya Sabha, the BJP leader said the state leadership fully endorsed the selection.

"It was a long pending demand of the party in the state to have a Rajya Sabha member..There was no difference of opinion in the party over the nomination of Suresh Gopi to Rajya Sabha. He would be one of our main campaigners," he added.
BJP is contesting in 97 seats while its main partner BDJS in 37 and small allies in the remaining seats of the total 140 assembly constituencies.