Political culture of Kerala will frustrate BJP, Cong should win regional forces: Vayalar Ravi
TNN Bureau. Updated: 7/24/2017 11:50:03 AM
National
Notwithstanding claims by the BJP over its pan-India expansion, the saffron party's growth has a limitation and in 2019 parliamentary polls, the regional parties will play an important role, senior Congress leader Vayalar Ravi has said here. "It is on this backdrop, I say the Congress parties should have good working rapport with regional forces and build up a strong secular front to take on the BJP and the RSS in 2019," Mr Ravi, a former Union Minister, told UNI here.
He said despite all attempts made by BJP, the saffron outfit's growth has stopped in the southern state of Kerala. "It's a saturation point for them...soon they will be frustrated. That is why now the BJP is trying to win over leaders from the Congress to join BJP. But this would not happen," he said. Mr Ravi said "Political culture of Kerala is different. Actually few states in India have that kind of culture.
In our case, political defections have been rarest of rare". Hence, he said the BJP will not able to make much penetration in Kerala -- despite the hype. In fact, Mr Ravi - now 80-year-old, said, "Even states like Karnataka do not have the political culture like Kerala. I have been in-charge of Karnataka Congress. The political commitment is always in question in that state and that is why the Janata Parivar had prominence at times in Karnataka". This "political opportunism" -- actually created a space for BJP in Karnataka, he said. Mr Ravi said in this context, next year's Assembly elections will be crucial in the state of Karnataka. "The Congress party attained power in Karnataka in 2013 after lot of struggle.
We must work hard to retain IT," he said. Fielding questions on Kerala politics, he said the "politics of violence" pursued by the CPI(M) has helped BJP establish its toehold and also expand base in Kerala. "The people of Kerala never liked the idea of confrontation with minorities. But it is the violent politics of the Marxists that drifted people towards communalism. The violent politics encouraged RSS propagate their politics in Kerala and also propagate hardliner Hindutva agenda and ideologies", Mr Ravi said.