Thiruvananthapuram: The BJP state leadership is sceptical of KC (M) chairman K. M. Mani's move to cosy up to the CPM as the CPI is against the KC (M) joining the LDF.

Veteran CPM leader V. S. Achuthanandan is also opposed to it. However, the BJP is keenly watching the developments as it had been hoping to broadbase the NDA by adding a Christian-dominated party.

Prior to the BJP national executive held in Kozhikode in September last year, the state leadership had maintained that official talks were yet to be started with the KC(M).

National president Amit Shah had wanted to meet Mr Mani, but it did not take place as it was felt that the time was not ripe. A top BJP leader told DC that the right time will be towards the run-up to the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

“Right now, the BJP state and central leaderships are wooing only those parties willing for unconditional alliance. We are certain that the CPM will also disown KC (M) as the CPI is fighting the move tooth and nail by projecting VS in the front. So Mani and co will neither be in the LDF nor in the UDF,” said a BJP general secretary.

The CPI is the second largest party in the LDF. If KC (M) joins the fold, it may push the CPI farther down. A former BJP state president told DC that both the LDF and the UDF will become weak if they take Mr Mani in.

“It is the CPM’s ploy to push the CPI into a corner. The current turn of events in the CPM and KC (M) shows the former’s opportunistic politics,” he said.