Malappuram: BJP state president Kummanam Rajasekharan is not in an envious position vis-a-vis Malappuram Lok Sabha by-poll. After the Uttar Pradesh poll victory, the buoyant central leadership of the party is already chalking out plans for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. It has given an onerous task to the state unit - to get at least one lakh votes in a Lok Sabha constituency dominated by the Muslim community. In 2014, the BJP managed to garner 64,000-odd votes. The Amit Shah-led saffron outfit points out to the Uttar Pradesh polls where the party made massive inroads in even Muslim majority constituencies. Kummanam, who is crisscrossing the constituency, spoke to Onmanorama after a hectic day of campaigning on the chances of the BJP, the Pinarayi government and the beef issue which has always put the party on a back foot in Kerala. Excerpts.
How do you fancy the BJP's chances in Malappuram?
This is a crucial election. The BJP did not fancy much chances last time, when it did not have the requisite strength. The by-polls come after the local body and assembly polls, when the BJP proved its strength. The discourse here is about national politics, where the BJP is occupying centrestage.
We are contesting for a win because we have so much backing from the people.
Why is the beef issue always troubling the BJP in Kerala?
Beef is not an issue at all here. These controversies are triggered from outside. The voters of the constituency are not bothered about it.
Did you seek a clarification from the BJP candidate who offered to provide clean beef?
I just said I will ask the candidate what he had said in the press conference. Only from him can we ascertain the facts. Beef is not an issue. People can eat whatever they like. But beef is not a matter of life and death. The key issues to be debated are food, housing, clean water and jobs. It is to avoid discussion on these fundamental issue that the beef issue is being raked up.
Your national ally Shiv Sena has pointed out a divergence in the stand of the BJP state and central units on the beef issue. How do you react to this?
Beef was not an election issue in Uttar Pradesh. Did the CPM or the Congress talk of it there. Then how can beef be an issue here.
What about the concerns over the way the UP government is dealing with slaughterhouses after BJP came to power?
The UP government is closing down slaughterhouses without licenses.
Do you think the Malappuram by-poll is a referendum on the Pinarayi government?
It was CPM state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan who first said the by-poll would be a referendum of that sort (He later backtracked). If that was the case, Pinarayi should have said that. That means Kodiyeri has an ulterior motive. There is a proxy war going on in the CPM between Kodiyeri and Pinarayi. Some CPM leaders say this is not a referendum on the government. There are differing views within the CPM on this. Pinarayi should show the guts to declare that this is a referendum on the LDF govt.
Kodiyeri Balakrishnan and Pinarayi VijayanSince this is a parliamentary by-poll shouldn't this be a referendum on the Center?
I have made that clear earlier also. The welfare measures undertaken by the center will be discussed in the by-polls. The issue here is national politics.
So, if the BJP loses can it be considered a verdict against the government?
I have said that this is a review, so it is obvious that the ownership rests on us. The BJP does not shy away from accepting ownership for defeats, because we have faith that the people will back us.
The state is reeling under a severe shortage of currency in treasuries and the government has blamed the Center.
This is a blatant lie. This lie was propagated in December and January ahead of salary disbursement. How can the Center not give money to Kerala alone. The state government is just making baseless charges to tarnish the image of the Center.
