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NDA to organise statewide ‘padayatra’ in Kerala ahead of Lok Sabha polls

The primary objective of the campaign is to seek support from the people in a state where opposition parties hold sway before LS polls.

ByPTI

Published Jan 24, 2024 | 6:28 PM ⚊ Updated Jan 24, 2024 | 6:28 PM

S Jaishankar with O Rajagopal and K Surendran in Thiruvananthapuram

BJP leader and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar during the inauguration of a beneficiary 'sammelan' in the Kerala capital. BJP Kerala president K Surendran and party leader O Rajagopal are also seen (Twitter/surendranbjp)

As part of its groundwork for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, the BJP-led NDA in Kerala is organising an extensive statewide padayatra (foot march) for a month from 27 January.

The primary objective of the campaign is to seek support from the people in a state where opposition parties hold sway before Lok Sabha polls, party sources said in Thiruvananthapuram on Wednesday, 24 January.

BJP president JP Nadda will inaugurate the march in Kasaragod district on 27 January. The month-long campaign, led by BJP state chief K Surendran, is scheduled to commence from the Thalippadupu ground in the evening on the said date.

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Union ministers, national leaders to take part

Titled “NDA Kerala Padayatra”, the foot march would pass through Lok Sabha constituencies in various districts before culminating in Palakkad on 27 February, a party statement said in Thiruvananthapuram.

Surendran would meet religious and social leaders and cultural icons during the journey and interact with the beneficiaries of various Central schemes.

Besides Nadda, union ministers and national leaders will inaugurate the padayatra in various districts and address the gathering each day.

The padayatra would cover Kottayam, Alappuzha and Thiruvananthapuram constituencies on 9, 10 and 12 February respectively and Union Home Minister Amit Shah would inaugurate the march in the state capital, it said.

At least 25,000 people, including those who have made their mark in different fields, would take part in the march in each constituency.

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To release NDA ‘development document’

Besides the exhibition of tableaux featuring various schemes implemented by the Narendra Modi government, the march would also witness the release of the development document of the NDA, the statement added.

The march comes amid renewed enthusiasm among party workers, following two consecutive trips by PM Modi to the southern state where he held two massive road shows — one in Thrissur and another in Kochi — early this month.

Addressing a conclave of women in Thrissur, Modi sounded the poll bugle for the saffron party in the state by highlighting the implementation of promises he had guaranteed.

Despite efforts since the 1980s, the BJP is yet to make significant inroads into the state’s politics, which is dominated by the Congress-led UDF and the CPI(M)-headed LDF.

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