Batting for a focused and inclusive agenda

You can agree or disagree with a leader like Kummanam Rajasekharan, but you cannot dismiss him as a political novice.

Kummanam, who recently took over as the BJP state president is confident about the prospects of his party in the assembly election, despite the fact that the party he represents has so far failed to win a single seat in Kerala assembly elections. But, when you listen to him speaking about the NDA winning 70-plus seats and forming a government, you see a man who wears his heart on the sleeve and can present arguments with absolute clarity .

“Kerala needs a more focussed and inclusive development agenda that would address the basic issues of all sections of the society .We are confident of showing the way head for Kerala, which is currently facing stagnation in all spheres,“ Kummanam told TOI readers at an interactive event ­ ManifesTOI ­ organized in the capital.

“There is no difference between the CPM and Congress. They have proved it in the past and are now proving it beyond doubt in West Bengal. Now, they act like enemies in Kerala. Sooner or later the understanding between them may go public in Kerala as well. The upcoming election is an opportunity for voters in the state to assess the quality of governance by the LDF and UDF in the last 60 years. People are fed up the last 60 years. People are fed up of experimenting with one front or the other. They are eagerly waiting for the emergence of a third front and the people, I believe, would give BJP-led NDA a chance to form gov ernment in the state,'' said Kummanam.

People expect positive and creative changes, wherein the money spent by the government reaches the people in its absolute volume. “A corruption-free and efficient rule is our promise.A change is inevitable and people are hungry for the same,'' said Kummanam.

The veteran leader said the party is contest ing all 140 seats in the state. “We are confident of winning 70 plus seats and forming a government,'' he said while answering a question on BJP's poll calculations.

Kummanam challenged his political detractors to prove their allegations that he was a communal fanatic. “I was never involved in any com munal violence. Let the critics munal violence. Let the critics prove otherwise. None of the protests I lead were against any particular religion or community.There is no case against me for inciting communal violence. It's quite natural that I worked to address the problems faced by weaker sections in Hindu communities. But in that endeavour I never let tears drop from the eyes of brothers belonging to other communities. Be it the Marad agitation or Nilakkal struggle, the protest was never against another community or religion. None of the Christian or Muslim leaders have ever raised communal al legations against me,'' he said.

Tackling a question on the BJP claim that Kerala is at a crossroads and only the saffron party can show the way forward, Kummanam said he is yet to see performance indicators that prove Kerala is on the right track.

“We don't produce enough rice or vegetables to feed ourselves. We have 3.5 lakh acres of surplus land, but there are over 25 lakh people who don't own land. We don't have an investmentfriendly environment and our youths are forced to take up jobs outside. I do think these are grave issues that need immediate attention. We cannot blindly ignore the reality and believe in rhetoric,“ he said.

Ease to do business is the promise of NDA to the business community , he said. “It's not the licence to exploit, but the opportunity for healthy co-existence and opportunity to grow. Red tape would be eliminated and entrepreneurs would be given all support,“ he said.