Thiruvananthapuram: BJP's mission to open its account in Kerala will get a strong push on Friday with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's election rally in Palakkad.
The Palakkad rally is the first in a series of five lined up the party ahead of May 16 polls. The Prime Minister will arrive at Coimbatore airport in neighbouring Tamil Nadu by 1:15 pm and then hop on into a chopper for the 40 kilometers journey to Palakkad.
On May 8, Modi will address three rallies – Kasaragod, Kuttanad in Alapuzha, and Thiruvananthapuram – and one on May 11 at Tripunithura in Ernakulam district.
The BJP has emerged as a strong third force in Kerala politics that was till now dominated by the Congress-led UDF and CPM-led LDF.
With UDF and LDF targeting the BJP more than each other in their election rallies, it is clear the BJP's rise has discomforted them.
On the other hand, the BJP is more than confident that the party will be able send a legislator to the assembly this time.
Yesterday, BJP president Amit Shah launched his campaign in the state by addressing a series of rallies in Ranni (Pathnamthitta), Manimala (Kottayam) and Paravoor (Ernakulam) districts.
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh will be in Kerala for a two-day campaign from May 6.
Besides, his cabinet colleagues Venkaiah Naidu and Smriti Irani, would also be in the state with a hectic schedule.
BJP, which has tied up with the BDJS (Bharatiya Dharma Jana Sena), a party floated by the Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana Yogam (SNDP), an organisation of the Ezhava community, has fielded 97 candidates while BDJS has put up 37 and remaining seats have been allocated to smaller parties.
Enthused by its good showing in the last year's local bodies election, the party is hoping to make it to the state assembly this time.
