A decision on the Kerala Janapaksham, which supported protests by Hindu outfits over the Sabarimala issue, cooperating with the BJP-led NDA in the Lok Sabha polls would be taken in four days, party founder and MLA, P C George said Wednesday.
George said the state committee of the Janapaksham had discussed the issue of cooperating with the NDA in the elections after the Congress leadership did not respond to his demand that his party be made a partner of the United Democratic Front (UDF).
"The national leadership of the BJP has contacted me. A decision on my party extending support to the NDA candidates in the elections will be taken in four days," George, who represents Poonjar constituency in the Kerala Assembly, told PTI over phone.
He said the matter was not discussed with the state leadership of the BJP or NDA.
The Janapaksham chairman claimed his party had decided not to contest the Lok Sabha polls following assurances by state Congress leaders, including Oommen Chandy and Ramesh Chennithala, that his party would be made a UDF ally if it supported the Front's candidates in the elections.
"But they went back on their promises after I made the announcement that Janapaksham would not contest the Lok Sabha polls. I feel cheated now," he said.
George said his party would not support the CPI(M)-led LDF in the elections alleging that the Pinarayi Vijayan-led government tried to "destroy Sabarimala temple traditions."
"We cannot support forces trying to humiliate and tarnish religious faith and traditions," he said.
George, who won the Poonjar seat defeating both UDF and CPI(M)-led LDF candidates in the 2016 assembly polls, claimed that he enjoys considerable clout among the minorities including Roman Catholics and Muslims in his constituency which is part of the Pathanamthitta Lok Sabha seat witnessing a strong triangular contest.
He claimed that his party has the strength to ensure the victory of the candidates it supports in some seats.
The BJP has fielded its strongman K Surendran from Pathanamathitta where the Sabarimala Lord Ayyappa temple is located.
While CPI(M) has fielded its sitting MLA Veena George as its candidate, the Congress renominated sitting MP Anto Antony.
George had supported protests by various Hindu outfits last year against the implementation of the Supreme Court verdict lifting the traditional ban on entry of women in the 10-50 age group into the Sabarimala temple.
He had come out openly against the LDF government's stand supporting entry of women in the menstrual age group into the famous shrine.
A revision petition against the September 28 verdict is pending in the apex court.
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