Uppala, Sunday 16 January 2010: The BJP will launch a ‘Kerala Raksha Padayatra’ from the northern border town of Uppala today as part of preparing for the upcoming elections to the Assembly.

The yatra, to be led by party State president V. Muralidharan, will be flagged off by BJP president Nitin Gadkari. BJP State general secretary K. Surendran told a press conference that the aim of the march was to “expose the anti-people policies pursued by the successive LDF and the UDF governments.”

The march will terminate in the State capital on February 26. “The primary objective of the march is to rid the State of terrorist elements and corruption and ensure justice for all and self-reliance to the people,” he said.

He said the “flawed” policies pursued by the LDF and the UDF had led to stagnation in agriculture, industry and other vital sectors, making Kerala dependent on other States for its needs.

Surenderan said the ‘Kerala Mochana Yatra’, launched by Leader of the Opposition Oommen Chandy from Uppalla on January 10, has failed to highlight key issues, including price rise, as the State Congress leadership was aware that the situation was caused by “faulty” economic policies pursued by the Congress-led UPA government at the Centre.

The BJP wants to usher in a new political climate and a mere change of governance by the CPM and the Congress would not help fulfil the aspirations of the people of the State, he said.

Senior State party leaders, including O. Rajagopal, and those from neighbouring Karnataka will take part in the flagging-off ceremony at Uppala. He said 90 persons would accompany the State BJP president in his march. The party will hold 40 major public meetings and 300-odd meetings during its journey, he said.

(News agency)