BJP's Sambhara Samvadam in Kerala: A marriage of politics and culture

Thiruvananthapuram, Apr 21:A group of Bengaluru based volunteers came together and pieced together an idea for the Kerala Assembly Elections. Chai or tea may have been key for the BJP's campaign during the Lok Sabha elections, but in Kerala it is a different cup of tea.

These volunteers decided to spice things up. The Sambhara Samvadam or a discussion over buttermilk is the mantra of the BJP in Kerala ahead of the May 16 poll.

Sambharam or buttermilk is a traditional drink in Kerala. Jineesh who was one of the volunteers behind this idea tells OneIndia that the response has been very good so far and the idea is to discuss about the achievements of the Narendra Modi government over a cup of buttermilk.

Discussion over a cup of buttermilk

Jineesh explains that the team from Bengaluru comprising Binu, Sanju, Jayshankar, Rasita and several others is headed by senior BJP leader, B L Santhosh.

Around 2 months back when the Kerala's BJP chief Kummanam had come to Bengaluru to hold discussions with the social media team, all of us floated this idea. They decided that they would organise this programme under the banner of I support Kummanam.

There were 200 of us present and many of us had worked with with the Chai pe Charcha programme as well. Since buttermilk is a traditional drink in Kerala, we felt that this idea would click like how chai pe charcha did.

During that meeting we also came up with a website called keralacircle.org which would highlight the achievements of the Modi government as people in Kerala often ask where is the ache din (good days)?

The response has been positive and the first event. We get a crowd of nearly 200 to 300 during each event. The first event was inaugurated by BJP, MP Nalin Kumar Kateel at Aranmula. The second one was held at Irinjalakkuda and inaugurated by BJP leader Meenakshi Lekhi.

A marriage of culture and politics

In Kerala, people are very emotive about their culture and politics. It was keeping this in mind that the idea of having a discussion over buttermilk was concerned.

When asked why the tender coconut which is also symbolic of Kerala's culture was not chosen, Jineesh laughs while stating that it could have been that too. However the buttermilk is as much part of a Kerala tradition like the tender coconut.

So far it is has been good start and we hope that the number of people attending the events will increase. This is a programme that runs parallel to the BJP's campaign in Kerala. That campaign would be an independent one and we are not interfering in it.

Our programme is basically to create an awareness about the BJP's achievements and with a cup of buttermilk in the hand we are aiming at a meaningful discussion, Jineesh also adds.

OneIndia News