Techies step out to campaign for BJP

KOCHI: When Puttingal temple tragedy claimed over 100 lives last month, Chinmaya Varma was one of the first techies in Kerala to update the information about victims online. The website, BJP Thrikkakara, uploaded hospital numbers, pictures of the wounded and requested blood from donors.Today , BJP Thrikkakara provides publicity to S Saji, a candidate from Thrikkakara, each day.
Varma shifted to Kochi after 17 years in the UK and USA and works as a senior VP at Infopark in Kochi.He is one among the 5,000 volunteers who are part of the special squads constituted by the BJP . The team includes young IT professionals, doctors, scientists and nurses campaigning for party candidates in Kerala.
While many of these volunteers have taken leave, a few others have left their jobs to campaign for the BJP ­ both on the road as well as the social media.They plan to influence youngsters and former LDF sympathizers.
A Bengaluru-based software firm run by Malayali techies have taken up the `I love Modi' slogan and changed it into `I love Kummanam' to add more support to the BJP state president Kummanam Rajasekharan, who is contesting from Vattiyoorkavu.“There are many of us who strongly feel that the nation is above politics. But, Kerala politics is marred by parochialism and corruption. BJP , we think, can offer a viable alternative,“ said Varma. Last month, the BJP started `Sambarathil Samvadam' (discussion over buttermilk), inspired by `Chai pe Charcha' campaign during the previous Lok Sabha polls. “The idea is to get people involved at all levels and discus serious issues,“ said Kummanam. Among the volunteers, there is a group of nurses who plan to campaign in Thiruvananthapuram for the party .
A party functionary said that the BJP could gain second place in at least 18 constituencies and win 4-7 seats. The BJP hopes that the Ezhava, OBC votes which totals to around 38% of the population ­ may swing the tide in its favour. The state leadership feels that the arrival of PM Narendra Modi during final leg of the campaign, will pull in more votes.“This the first election where people are really confused as they have lost trust in UDF and LDF.They want a change and BJP is a good choice,“ Kummanam said.