New Delhi: In the 2021 Assembly elections in Kerala, the BJP could not even save its only seat, Nemom. High-profile candidate E. Sreedharan had lost the election, but now BJP is trying to establish its roots here with renewed vigor.
Former Human Resource Development Minister Prakash Javadekar spends 10 days in Kerala every month. He is in charge of the BJP in Kerala. Party has given him a special mission. Under the mission, Javadekar is trying to prove in Kerala that Christians and Muslims are not ‘untouchable’ for the BJP.
Prakash Javadekar spoke openly on the new equation with Christians in Kerala, BJP’s planning, and how the 2024 Lok Sabha elections in the state will be important for the party. a report…
Kerala deserves better than LDF and UDF
Prakash Javadekar said that Kerala deserves better than LDF and UDF. There has been no development in the state. Youths are going to other states and abroad in search of jobs. There is a dire need for change and it will happen in 2024.
On the UDF winning 19 seats in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, former Union Minister Javadekar said that the UDF had got so many seats for two reasons. First, people were angry with the communists over the Sabarimala issue. Second, people thought that Rahul Gandhi would become the Prime Minister. After 2019, people realized that Modi was the better option. In such a situation, the scene in 2024 is going to be completely different. Ask anyone in Kerala, they will say Modi is coming back. The whole country is confident about the result. Kerala will also change its voting pattern. BJP has been getting around 15 percent of votes in elections. We need to increase this to 25%.
40 percent of people like PM Modi in Kerala
Union Minister said that we have got the survey done. There are also many reports. PM Modi’s acceptance here is 40 percent. Modi does not discriminate against any state. Now our task is to convert Modi’s acceptance into BJP’s acceptance.
the former Union Minister said that every state is different. Where there are all kinds of opportunities and challenges. A wonderful opportunity in Kerala, from which BJP can take a quantum leap here. But are there obstacles? Answering this question, he said that Kerala has had only bipolar politics for a long time. Both fronts have a strong organizational structure and a support base. We don’t underestimate them. But now there are opportunities because of Modi’s good governance.
Are Muslims and Christians stopping BJP?
Response to the question Kerala also has two powerful minority communities. Do you think they are stopping BJP? In response to this question, Javadekar said that both these communities are options and opportunities for us. Our workers visited one lakh fifty thousand Christian homes and were warmly received everywhere. On the occasion of Eid, we will go to the homes of our Muslim brothers to congratulate them. Neither BJP nor PM Modi discriminates between communities. All Indians are one and all are equal.
We are working to win hearts not votes
BJP has a special plan for Kerala. we are doing this not just for votes but to win hearts. This is not only in Kerala but for the whole country. The number of minorities here is very high. That’s why it is noticed. We are always a ‘country first’ party. Development is the only agenda. Also, we aim to take everyone along. Its effect will also be seen in Kerala next May.
Who is BJP’s number one enemy in Kerala?
In response to this question, Prakash Javadekar said that LDF and UDF are two sides of the same coin. Both are our enemies because both have failed to give Kerala what it deserves. Also, we do not use the word enemy. We like the word anti-political. We will win at least 5 seats in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and we will also win assembly elections in 2026. This is not my superstition.
Changed concept of Christians and Muslims
There 28 percent of Muslims in Kerala, will never vote for Modi. In response, Prakash Javadekar said that this is just a misconception created by LDF and UDF. People including Christians and Muslims have realized what Modi is doing for them. He is giving benefits to Keralites. We want to make one India, the best India.
Earlier we were nowhere in the Northeast, but now…
Javadekar said that we were nowhere in the Northeast. I was in charge of Manipur in 2012 and 2017. We had only a 3% vote share in 2012. In 2017, we got 33% votes and came to power. We came to power again in 2022. In Kerala, we are at least 15%. The Northeast is flourishing. That’s why people trusted us. We have achieved this through hard work. We did not win their trust with gimmicks or spreading hatred or false propaganda.
Congress and CPM together did corruption
Javadekar said that Congress and CPM together had corruption in Kerala. In Brahmaputra corruption also there is the complicity of sons and sons-in-law of Congress and CPM leaders. People have understood this. They will reject both. The former Union Minister said that the Prime Minister is coming to Kerala on 24 April.
Congress also removed much content from books
On the question of erasing the history of Mughals from NCERT books, Prakash Javadekar said that I was once the Human Resource Development Minister. We made 200 changes to NCERT textbooks in 2017. There was no photograph of Shivaji Maharaj. Also, there was no mention of the Paika rebellion. We added all that. History should make us proud of our country’s culture and tradition. Every country is doing this.
As far as removing some content is concerned, it is the work of an educationist. They make decisions according to the need of the hour. Congress used to do the same. There is no politics in this.
Rahul Gandhi will lead Wayanad like Amethi
On Rahul Gandhi’s statement about representing Wayanad, Javadekar said that as he represented Amethi? You go to Amethi and see what they have done for Amethi. He took it as a birthright and did nothing for the constituency.
There is an alliance between BJP and CPM, Prakash Javadekar on Congress’s allegation that Congress and CPM are allies. They are together in corruption and elections.
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