P C George's Kerala Janapaksham (Secular) plans merger with BJP
Kottayam: Speaking to news channels here, George said that the ''general sentiments'' of his party workers are in favor of joining the BJP, and that a decision in this regard will be made before the Lok Sabha polls.
In case such a decision is taken, it won't be a merger ''as ours is a very small party and it would be like a small stream joining a river,'' he said.
George, who represented Poonjar seat in the Kerala assembly for more than 30 years, praised Narendra Modi's leadership and said that India has never had such an accomplished prime minister, and that the opinion among party ranks is to support him.
When asked whether he would contest the Lok Sabha polls if he joins the BJP, he said, ''If the BJP asks me to contest, I will; if not, I won't.'' George, a former seven-time legislator representing the Poonjar constituency in Kottayam district, served from 1982 to 1987 and from 1996 to 2022, totaling 33 years in the Kerala Assembly.
He was associated with various political parties like Kerala Congress, Kerala Congress (Joseph), Kerala Congress (Mani), and Kerala Congress (Secular) before forming his own party, Kerala Janapaksham (Secular), after the 2016 assembly elections.
During his political career, George held positions such as Chief Whip of the Kerala Assembly from 2011 to 2015 when the UDF government was in power.
He later became an independent politician and in 2017 established his own party.
George lost the Poonjar segment, his bastion, to the Left Democratic Front candidate in the 2021 assembly polls in a triangular fight.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Mamata alleges BJP disrupted her Bhabanipur rally, Suvendu claims 'she's nervous'
Kolkata (PTI): Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee cut short her speech at a rally in her Bhabanipur constituency, alleging that the BJP was deliberately playing loud music from a nearby public meeting.
A peeved Banerjee said despite having the required permission of the Election Commission, her rally in Chakraberia was disrupted by the BJP, "who want to capture Bengal by intimidation and threat".
"It is not possible for me to go ahead with this meeting. If they can do such a thing in my constituency, imagine how undemocratic the BJP is. If they behave like this, I have to take legal action," she said.
"This is an insult, humiliation. BJP is stepping on our toes to instigate trouble. Not possible to address the gathering in this situation. I am leaving the stage. Please vote for me in your protest," she added.
Banerjee was then seen calling someone over and venting her grievances.
Before leaving the stage, she said, "I will hold a rally tomorrow at the same spot."
TMC supporters then rushed towards the BJP rally, which was later addressed by Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari, but security personnel intervened and prevented the situation from escalating.
TMC workers later staged a demonstration outside the local police station and filed a complaint, alleging that the BJP violated the model code of conduct.
A senior TMC leader said another complaint will also be lodged with the Election Commission.
Asked about Banerjee's allegations, Adhikari told reporters after the rally he held nearby, "Her reaction shows she is nervous about the imminent loss."
"There was no violence, no obstruction in her meeting and her behaviour shows her nervousness. On May 4, people of Bhabanipur will celebrate the victory of the BJP," he claimed, alleging that the TMC also tried to disrupt his meeting by playing loud music.
South Kolkata's Bhabanipur, one of the battleground seats in the West Bengal elections, will vote in the second phase on April 29.
