BJP probe panel focuses on corrective measures

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The inquiry commission appointed by  the BJP  to probe into the allegations of  the party local leadership’s role in the defeat of state general secretary K Surendran at Manjeswaram constituency  is learnt to have  focused on corrective measures and the need for initiating efforts to strengthen the organisational set-up of the party across the state.The commission comprising party state secretary C Sivankutty and state committee member N Aravindan, which probed the  role of certain local leaders  including  district president M Narayana Bhatt in the  party’s defeat, had reportedly found that cross-voting, vote trading and factional feuds plaguing the party ever since its formative years had all resulted in the electoral defeat.In spite of the fact that K Surendran had raised the party’s vote share from 33,000 to 43,000 at  Manjeswaram, the efforts by Narayana Bhatt, V Ravindran and the former zonal president of the party and some other leaders having sway over particular castes ensured the defeat of Surendran.It has been pointed out that even silly reasons like voters attending a temple festival or a wedding on the day of the election had in the past led to the defeat of  leaders like Sankar Alva of the Jan Sangh and  K G Marar by conceding slender margins to their opponents.The commission has  reportedly found that V Ravindran had tried to play the communal card among the Tulu and Shetti sub-castes of the Hindu community at his native place at Kumbala.Narayana Bhatt who had unsuccessfully contested from Manjeswaram in 2006 once again had an eye on the seat. When his demand was declined he managed to get the Kasargod seat for his wife Jayalakshmi Bhatt.