Rift in BJP over candidate selection in Palakkad

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Palakkad municipality is embroiled in an internal discord over candidate selection for the December 11 civic election. Though no public statements of discontentment have been made, two factions have become clearly visible in the party.

One faction backs BJP State vice-president C. Krishnakumar and East district president Prasanth Sivan, while the other supports State treasurer and current municipal vice-chairman E. Krishnadas along with chairperson Prameela Sasidharan.

The BJP State leadership has not approved the district committee’s candidate list because it left out Mr. Krishnadas, Ms. Sasidharan, and former national executive member N. Sivarajan.

Meanwhile, former municipal chairperson Priya Ajayan, who stepped away from politics citing neglect and factionalism in the BJP, has been at the receiving end of a cyber attack, reportedly by party workers, following a Facebook post.

The candidate list forwarded to the State leadership featured the names of Mr. Sivan and Mr. Krishnakumar’s wife, Mini Krishnakumar, triggering sharp criticism from different corners.

The anti-Krishnakumar section alleges that most candidates on the list, including Mr. Sivan, were his supporters and that the list was prepared without taking Mr. Krishnadas and Mr. Sasidharan into confidence.

Mr. Sivarajan has reportedly approached the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) protesting against the denial of seat to him.

Confident of victory

Speaking to the media, Mr. Sivarajan predicted that the BJP would win the Palakkad municipality for a third straight term and insisted there was no internal discord. “I will contest the election if the party tells me to, and I will not if it tells me not to,” he said.

Mr. Sivarajan argued that it was fine for the party’s district president to run for the municipality. He added that the candidate list did not need to be debated with everyone and that he was not upset about not being consulted.

A BJP faction had objected to Ms. Sasidharan appearing onstage with Rahul Mamkootathil, Palakkad MLA, who has been accused of sexual misconduct, at a recent event. They even demanded her ouster.