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Thiruvananthapuram: A middle-class icon and symbol of probity in public service, technocrat E Sreedharan has enthused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ranks in poll-bound Kerala by announcing his decision to join the party. His political plunge is likely to do more harm to the Congress-led United Democratic From (UDF), in its grim battle against the firmly-entrenched ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF), than assuring an instant breakthrough for the BJP in the ballot count.
As a peer group influencer Sreedharan may inspire a sizeable section of politically non-committal people, especially former bureaucrats and professionals across the spectrum, to support the BJP in the elections. This could cost Congress dearly, and by default, the ruling LDF led by the CPI (M) would benefit from a three-way apportioning of votes.
Being a fiercely independent and highly focused engineer and mega projects planner known for many accomplishments including the timely commissioning of the Delhi Metro Rail, no one would accuse 87-year-old Sreedharan of running after power and pelf by joining the party in power at the Centre.
He has stated that it is his considered decision, being convinced that the BJP could bring about a qualitative change to Kerala ruled alternately by the two coalitions led by the CPI (M) and the Congress for more than three decades.
More significantly, Sreedharan’s is not just a membership-taking cameo act, as is the case with most celebrities in election season. He has made it amply clear that he would prefer to be a pro-active player in the electoral arena. In interviews with the media, a non-hesitant Sreedharan said he does not consider the BJP as a ‘communal’ party, as being dubbed by rivals.
Short on words and long on the action during his long career that took him to execute big projects in different parts of the country like Konkan Railway, Sreedharan has gone politically vocal after declaring his plan, making sharp comments at the Congress and the CPI (M). He has not even spared Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, whose style of functioning, he says, betrayed his autocratic proclivities.
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Though it came as a surprise, and a bit hard to digest, the CPI (M) and Congress leaders have so far refrained from making sweeping comments against Sreedharan’s decision. They know that it is better to avoid making uncharitable comments against a person of an unsullied reputation and huge public appeal, at least for time being. Social media handlers of the two fronts, however, have unleashed an onslaught on him, which is set to become murkier as the state moves close to elections.
The BJP rank and file is jubilant on having a widely respected personality openly endorsing the party. They expect that many more celebrities from different walks of life will soon join the party, including an ace sports person, film personalities and retired civil servants.
Their presence, the party strategists count, would make the contest a three-horse race in many seats, in a state where the BJP had stagnated as a distant third in past elections, barring in a handful of constituencies in up-north and down south.
If the BJP considerably increases its vote share, and even finishes the runner-up in a few seats, it could be essentially at the cost of Congress. Going by the class and caste factors, the saffron party would be cut sharply into the Congress vote bank.
Severe organizational weaknesses aggravated a grim resource crunch and the talent deficit of the Congress came to the fore during the recent civic elections.
Lethargy and frustration is palpable within the party ranks. The party is also in the throes of a leadership crisis and yet to work out an appealing script to base its campaign.
All this could prove advantageous to the LDF, which has already cranked up its campaign machine to wage an all-out battle to secure a fresh mandate on the central slogan “further ahead.”
