Thiruvanthapuram: The decision to nominate popular Malayalam cine actor Suresh Gopi to the Rajya Sabha is seen as a masterstroke on the part of the Central Government and the BJP leadership, which is leaving no stone unturned to make the lotus bloom in Kerala’s hostile terrain in the upcoming Assembly poll.
The nomination on the eve o the Assembly poll is justification of the BJP central leadership’s claim that Kerala is close to its heart. “Kerala is far off from Delhi. I am a pilot and I know to reach Kerala. It takes as much time to reach Malaysia. But Kerala is so close to the heart of the Central Government and Prime Minister Modi,” Union Skill Development Minister Rajiv Pratap Rudy said while inaugurating the election convention of cricketer S Sreesanth on Wednesday evening. Proving his claim true, within two hours came the news of Suresh Gopi’s nomination to the Rajya Sabha. With Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the helm of the campaign, Kerala will witness a political change,” he said.
Suresh Gopi is the main campaigner for the BJP. He seeks the people’s support for the party pointing out that the Centre had sanctioned an array of developmental projects for the state through it had not sent a single MP to the Lok Sabha. At a time when people have been reluctant to support the party, the Centre has nominated Suresh Gopi to the elite league of cultural personalities in the Upper House of Parliament. Through Suresh Gopi had earlier announced he would be made the NFDC chairman, it was not to be. As a mark of protest, he had rejected the proposal to field him from Thiruvananthapuram constituency for the poll.
The actor had courted controversy a few months ago, when he said the Hindu community should come together and contribute to bring the Vizhinjam port project to fruition.Veteran leader O Rajagopal said Suresh Gopi, who is already one of the major BJP campaigners, will get further strength and authenticity on the campaign front in the coming days. “The nomination of Suresh Gopi once again proved Kerala is close to the heart of the Central Government and Prime Minister Modi. All Keralites will be happy with the decision,” RAjagopal said, “It is a moment of pride for the artists of Kerala. The decision has lifted the pride of Keralites,” said party state president Kummanam Rajasekharan.
