Show of strength by rival BJP factions in Kerala

Thrissur, Nov 4 (UNI) A show of strength by the rival factions in the Kerala unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was on the cards today with representatives of both groups filing nominations for the election to the post of state president.

With conciliatory efforts failing, Mr Ettumanoor Radhakrishnan, the nominee of the official faction led by outgoing president P S Shridharan Pillai and Mr P K Krishna Das, a nominee of the rebel P P Mukundan Group, were in the fray.

The election is likely to be held later in the evening or tomorrow morning, party sources said.

Both groups have, however, proposed the name of Former State President C K Padmanabhan for the National Council.

Earlier, the two-day meeting of the State BJP General Council started here this morning. Mr A N Radhakrishnan, a 'dummy' candidate of the rebel group, withdrew his nomination in the evening after the nomination papers of Mr P K Krishna Das were accepted after scrutiny.

UNI XR ARC VD RS1924