Opposed the Kerala Assembly resolution against Farm laws, O. Rajagopal claims

Thiruvananthapuram: The lone BJP MLA in Kerala Legislative Assembly, O. Rajagopal has come out with a clarification that he had opposed a resolution passed by the Kerala Assembly against contentious farm laws.

Earlier he had told the media that he supported the resolution. This caused an embarrassment to Kerala BJP which has been consistently supporting the laws.

It is learnt that the clarification was made by Rajagopal after the BJP President K. Surendran sought a clarification from him.

In a press note issued here, the MLA said that he had opposed the resolution but the Speaker P. Sreeramakrishnan violated the precedent of the assembly as the chair did not ask for those who are against it.

He alleged that the speaker made it a single question without asking for those who reject the resolution.

Earlier on Thursday, at a special session of the assembly, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had moved the resolution, which was unanimously passed by the House with the ruling LDF, Opposition Congress-led UDF and the BJP supporting it.

"The resolution was passed unanimously. I have told my views... with regard to some matters (in the resolution) there was a difference of opinion, which I had pointed out in the House", Rajagopal had told mediapersons after the session.

"I fully support the resolution", he said.

When pointed out that the resolution was for scrapping the three central farm laws, Rajagopal said he supported it (resolution).

"I supported the resolution and the central government should withdraw the three farm laws," the senior BJP leader said, adding he agreed with the general consensus in the House.

That is the democratic spirit, he added.

Speaker P Sreeramakrsihanan said the resolution had been passed by the House and no one had objected.

When it was pointed that he was going against his party's stand, Rajagopal said in a democratic system, we need to go as per consensus. While speaking during the session, Rajagopal had said the new laws will protect farmers' interests and middlemen will be avoided.

Those opposing the laws were standing against farmers, he said adding the new laws would double the income of farmers.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was prepared to meet the agitating farmers, but they had wanted the scrapping of the laws first, he pointed out.

Meanwhile BJP's Kerala leadership on Thursday maintained they would talk to lone party MLA O Rajagopal over his support to the resolution which sought rescinding of the three contentious farm laws.

BJP state chief K Surendran told the media: "I have not seen Rajagopal's press conference, nor do I know what he has said. I will speak to him and let you know."

Asked of two opinions within the BJP existed over the farm laws, he retorted: "What are you saying? There are no two opinions on the farm Acts among Kerala BJP leaders."

BJP state General Secretary MT Ramesh told the media in Alappuzha: "Rajagopal is a senior leader and I did not think that he will support the resolution. He had earlier come out against the state government for bringing in a resolution against the farm Acts. I don't know what happened. Let me check and revert back."

While both senior leaders were guarded in their response, highly placed party sources told IANS that the party is "totally surprised". A senior leader said: "The party is literally in a shock. We don't know what to do in this situation. The BJP will take a decision on this development."

Rajagopal was Minister of State in Railways, Defence and Parliamentary Affairs in the Vajpayee government at the Centre. He is the first BJP leader to enter the Kerala Assembly.

Rajagopal had earlier courted a controversy during voting of Speaker's post by supporting Left nominee Sreeramakrishnan. He had then said that he had supported the Speaker because his name had Lord Rama and Lord Sreekrishna in it.

RSS Sarsanghchalak Mohan Bhagwat is currently in Thiruvananthapuram to attend a Sangh meeting. The position taken by the veteran BJP leader in the Assembly will be deliberated upon in the highest echelons of the BJP and the RSS, the sources said.

(With inputs from agencies)