With Dist Prez Postings, BJP Plans Big on Social Engineering

Decision to appoint three district presidents from Christian community, nine from Ezhava, and 13 from Nair community seen as ploy to dislodge existing power system

- S SREEJITH @T'Puram

In a political masterstroke the BJP hopes would change its fortunes in the state, the party leadership has set in motion its biggest social engineering to incorporate the different sections of highly complex vote banks.

The decision to appoint three district presidents from the Christian community, nine from Ezhava, and 13 from the Nair community has been seen as a carefully maneuvered move to dislodge the existing power system in the state electoral politics. Four women have also been appointed to the post, besides two leaders from the Scheduled Caste communities.

Though the BJP had been undertaking social engineering to reach out to the Christian community, this is a first-of-a-kind attempt to promote more Christian faces to the local and mid-level leadership.

"Suresh Gopi's victory in the Lok Sabha election from Thrissur was viewed as the result of the Christian outreach programme. However, there were complaints from the Christian community that they had been neglected while appointing office-bearers. If we fail to consider their demands and aspirations, the whole process would be affected," a senior BJP leader told TNIE.