Kasargod: BJP workers lock up party office; stage protest

Mangalore Today News Network

Kasargod, Feb 20, 2022: BJP workers of Kasargod  locked up the party’s district office in the city on February 20, Sunday and staged a  protest, giving  a clear indication that all is not well within the party.

It is learnt that the speculation that the BJP had entered into a secret pact with the CPI(M)  in the elections to the Kumble Gram Panchayat Standing Committee, had led to widespread resentment. Party men alleged  the several appeals made to the party’s state leadership have fallen on deaf ears.

The protestors also alleged that sincere partymen were ignored and stated that the protest will continue until the issues raised by them are resolved. It may be noted that the saffron party is very strong in Kasargod and in Manjeswara and Kasargod Assembly segments, the BJP candidates always reached the second spot in poll results.

K. Surendran has been contesting from the Manjeswar seat, and in the 2016 Assembly elections, he lost by 89 votes to P.B. Abdul Razak of the Indian Union Muslim League. However, he could not repeat that feat in the 2021 Assembly elections where he lost to A.K.M. Ashraf of the Muslim League by 745 votes.

The controversy that has erupted in Kasargod has jolted the state BJP leadership as this has taken place in the party’s stronghold of Kasargod where the party has always been a force to reckon with.

BJP local leader M. Praveen while speaking to IANS said, "We are fighting a war with the CPI-M in Kerala and the alliance with that party in Kumbala was totally uncalled for. We will not budge till the state president intervenes and settles the matter.

However, BJP state president K. Surendran returned from Kannur and has not reached Kasargod as was expected.

BJP state president K. Surendran while speaking to media said, "I have to study the issue and have to speak to the local leadership on the matter. I cannot comment unless I get proper information on the same.