‘Metroman Man’ E Sreedharan, who is BJP’s CM candidate for upcoming Kerala assembly elections, said that according to him, the saffron party has very ‘good prospects of winning number of seats.’ “It may be absolute majority or could be a sizeable number by which they will be the kingmakers,” he told news agency ANI. 

Talking about facing criticism over viral social media pictures that showed people touching and washing Sreedharan feet, the 88-year-old said, “Touching the feet of elders is the tradition of India. They (Left party) probably don’t know it.”

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“This is a way of showing respect to elders. It is practised throughout India. Criticising it means Left govt have no regards for our traditions and culture,” he told news agency ANI. 

Earlier, the BJP’s Palakkad candidate faced backlash by the left party members after images that showed voters washing and touching the feet of Sreedharan during his campaign, started doing rounds on social media.

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CPI leader and Rajya Sabha MP Binoy Viswam criticised the technocrat and said, “He is saying it is Indian tradition. This is an example of the direction in which the BJP is taking our country, the political system and democratic values.”