Alphons Kannanthanam calls on religious heads and spiritual leaders

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: What could be seen as a policy statement by the

Narendra Modi-Amit Shah

team ahead of the 2019 parliament election, the Malayalee face in the Union cabinet Alphons Kannanthanam was on Saturday seen meeting religious and spiritual leaders, one after another, on his maiden visit to the state capital as the Union minister.

The itinerary of the former civil servant Alphons Kannanthanam who was recently inducted to the Modi cabinet as the minister of state for electronics, information technology, culture and tourism was clear reflection of the agenda the BJP wish to push forward in Kerala. For long, the BJP central leadership had been making plans to win the confidence of Christian community. The disassociation of

Kerala Congress

led by K M Mani with the Congress led United Democratic Front, the BJP believes, would help the party to win over them in future. If the consent to the BJP alliance comes right from the church heads itself, forging a political alliance with Kerala Congress would be an easy task, they think.

The church leaders had welcomed the induction of Kannanthanam to the cabinet on the day of his induction. On Saturday, Kannanthanam began his tour in the capital district by vising Varkkala Sivagriri Mutt. The visit, an apparent move to cool down the nerves of BJP's new political alley, BDJS, however, seems to have failed to impress its leaders. BDJS president Thushar Vellappally, who is the son of SNDP Yogam general secretary Vellappally Natesan has skipped the NDA meeting in the evening.

Kannanthanam would visit Syro Malankara Catholic church major arch bishop baselios Cardinal Cleemis Catholicos, Latin Catholic Thiruvananthapuram Arch Bishop Sooosai Pakiyam and

Sreerama

krishna Mutt. The one crucial visit, which he added to his itinerary in the last minute is to Palayam Juma Masjid.

In the evening, BJP district committee would welcome him at a public meeting nearby Sree Padmanabha Swamy temple.

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