Kerala BJP splits as Raman Pillai floats new party

Kochi, Jul 15 (UNI) Signalling a split in the Kerala BJP unit, former BJP State President K Raman Pillai today floated a new political party 'Kerala Janapaksham' with an aim to build a national, democratic and secular political set-up in the country.

Speaking to reporters here, Mr Pillai said the first convention of the party would be held on October 21 here, in which the party leaders would be announced.

''The BJP under the leadership of P K Krishnadas in the state has lost its way and is working without any knowledge of the party constitution and tradition,'' Mr Pillai alleged.

He said the BJP leadership had sounded a warning against those associating with the socio-cultural organisation, Bharatiya Janapaksham, which was formed by him in November last year.

Criticising the state BJP unit, Mr Pillai said the party had lost credibility and was working without any ideology and principles.

'' The BJP state leadership has no concern for the future and did not know what the party stood for,'' he said.

Asked on the stand of leaders like O Rajagopal and P S Sreedharan Pillai on the formation of the new party, Mr Pillai said, ''anyone can join the party as there were no restrictions.'' Mr Pillai claimed that two members of the present state BJP unit, P B Purshothaman Master and Mohan Shankar, besides other leaders had resigned from the party and joined the new party.

These leaders include M V Jose, Advocate Mohammed Ashraf and his wife Najma Ashraf, Chennithala Gopalakrishnan Nair, P B Sathyan, Ms L Jyanati, Ms G Chandrika, Ramakrishnan Pillai, K R Raghavan and K Premnath, Mr Pillai said.

The new party had appointed district conveners and constituted various committees, including one for the convention activities under Mohan Shankar.

A committee under the chairmanship of advocate Sadanantha Prabhu to draft a constitution for the party, finance committee under K R Raghavan and publicity committee under Samkutty were constituted, he added.

Mr Pillai said the party would either form a third front or align with the UDF or LDF in the state for which initial talks were on.

UNI