Amit Shah to launch NDA campaign in Kerala on April 9

Gearing up to challenge both Congress-led ruling UDF and CPI-M headed LDF opposition in Kerala in the May 16 Assembly polls, BJP President Amit Shah would launch the election campaign of NDA in the state on April 9.

“People of the state are fed up with the successive governments of UDF and LDF and want a change,” Union Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda said today, while announcing Shah’s visit, during the launch of the NDA Kerala unit here.

“The BJP-led NDA is the political alternative for the people of Kerala,” Nadda, who is in-charge of party affairs in the state, said, adding the formation of NDA in the state is a “historic moment”.

Nadda slammed both UDF and LDF governments saying, while UDF leaders from Chief Minister to Ministers and MLA’s were involved in some scams and scandals, CPI-M has lost its strength on ideology and so they have turned to violence.

“Left have lost there ideology. Wherever they are in power, they are intolerant,” Nadda said while inaugurating the state convention of its leaders here.

Several BJP cadres have lost their lives in the attacks by CPI(M) workers and “it is still continuing”.

Attacking the ruling UDF, Nadda said, “the bad name brought to the state due to scandals and scams with involvement of Chief Minister and other ministers have to be removed.”

Seeking people’s mandate in favour of NDA, he said under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the country was going forward in right direction.

“Kerala should also get the benefit of the growth,” he said.

BJP, which has failed to break the bipolar politics of UDF and LDF and taste victory in Assembly and parliament polls, this time has found a powerful partner after its tie-up with newly formed Bharat Dharma Jana Sena by Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana Yogam, an outfit of backward Ezhava community.

Other minor partners in the NDA in the state include A faction of Kerala Congress led by former Union Minister P C Thomas, JSS led by former MLA Rajan Babu, Kerala Vikas Party, and Lok Jansakti Party.