Disciplinary action likely against BJP leaders

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The BJP state leadership is likely to initiate disciplinary action against party’s Kasargod district president M Narayana Bhatt and former zonal president V Ravindran for their alleged role in the defeat of state general secretary K Surendran at the Manjeswaram Assembly constituency.The inquiry commission, appointed by the party, comprising state secretary C Sivankutty and state committee member N Aravindan, which probed into the allegations against these leaders is learnt to have submitted its report to the party leadership recommending action.While Narayana Bhatt faces the allegation of tacit understanding with the UDF leaders to defeat Surendran in return of support to his wife Jayalakshmi Bhatt, who was the BJP candidate in Kasargod constituency,  allegation against Ravindran was the misappropriation of election funds, collected from Mumbai-based BJP sympathizers.The Commission has reportedly found that Narayana Bhatt had tried to unleash a campaign damaging the winning prospect of Surendran, who offered stiff fight against the LDF and UDF candidates at Manjeswaram.The party workers had alleged that Narayana Bhatt, falling prey to a UDF strategy, had unleashed a campaign against Surendran, much to the discomfort of the party workers, who were engaged with the election campaign. In fact, Narayana Bhatt’s emergence in the party despite his old Congress connection had irked the party workers.However, the fact that he had been given the party ticket to contest the elections in 2006 Assembly elections  also came in support of his claim to the post of the district party chief. But Narayana Bhatt had never been able to shirk off his congress culture. He had reportedly blocked a section of Hindu community from voting for Surendran. He tried to spread the word among the voters that contrary to expectation, Surendran would not win and instead Jayalaksmi Bhatt would be going to win with the UDF support in Kasargod.The party state president V Murlaidharan and organising secretary Umakanthan, who visited the district following allegations of misappropriation of election funds by V Ravindran are also learnt to have been apprised by party workers.Ashok Kumar Holla, another leader facing allegations of sabotaging the  BJP candidate’s prospect is, however, unlikely to invite the wrath of the party as the commission has not called for action against him, according to sources.