BJP may field big ticket from state unit in bypoll

The party wants to contest the elections as boycotting the poll could send a message that the BJP is indirectly supporting the AIADMK. The party is already facing charges of helping the ruling AIADMK to get the ‘Two Leaves’ symbol. The BJP had been projecting itself as an alternative to the Dravidian parties and boycotting the polls would be seen as an acceptance of the superiority of the two parties. But, it should come out with a decent performance to justify its claims of growing as an alternative in the state, a district functionary of the party reasoned.

Only if a state level leader who is known to the people could show a good support base in the constituency and fielding district functionaries would demoralise the cadre if the BJP fared poorly. It would also reflect in future elections, he said. The party leaders are thinking of putting up a state level functionary to boost the chances of better performance since it had polled just around one per cent votes in the 2016 Assembly elections.