Chengannur Bypoll: Thushar Vellapally says BDJS won’t work with BJP

National Democratic Alliance’s main ally in Kerala, Bharat Dharma Jana Sena (BDJS) led by Thushar Vellapally, has decided to stick to its stand of not working with the BJP ahead of the crucial by-election in Chengannur on May 28, unless BJP addresses many of the issues that have widened the rift between the two parties.

“We have not quit the alliance with BJP, but unless they address the issues, we do not see any point in campaigning for them. We have been waiting for more than two years,” said Vellapally, who is the son of SNDP (Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana Yogam) leader Vellapally Natesan.

“There are a few issues and some wrong information has been spread to the media. During the Rajya Sabha polls, everyone was informed that I would be made a Rajya Sabha MP from Uttar Pradesh. That was nothing but a lie. I had not even asked for the post. Such news has damaged my standing in Kerala. Local BJP leaders clarified this, but by then the damage was done. The BJP top leadership should clarify this especially because I cannot work anywhere else but from Kerala,” points out Vellapally.

The BJP leadership, while drawing us into the alliance, had offered BDJS party leaders posts in Corporations and Boards around the country. “Even that hasn’t materialised yet. They promised these posts two years ago. My party members are getting restless. Even if they don’t announce which Board, they should confirm it at least,” pointed out Vellapally, who said they will have to think about their strategy in case BJP does not fulfil their promises.

He also feels that the NDA’s style of operating will not work in Kerala. “NDA doesn’t understand what needs to be done. I have told many people in BJP, including the president Amit Shah that unless the district-level and Panchayat-level groups are not constituted, it would not be easy in the state. But, they have not been listening. They are operating on some other level,” added Vellapally.

“Unless all of these issues are settled we don’t see a point in campaigning for them. None of our party members will stand for the byelections this time,” says Vellapally, whose party had mobilised several SNDP workers to campaign for the BJP candidate in the last Assembly elections.

There have been reports that the BJP Central leadership had reached out to Vellapally ahead of the Chengannur byelections, but Vellapally denied any such overtures from BJP.