Metro Man E Sreedharan to join BJP, likely to contest in Kerala polls

"It is not a sudden decision. I have been in Kerala for the past decade and wanted to do something for the state. I alone cannot do things. BJP is different and that's why I joined the party," Sreedharan told the Malayala Manorama newspaper as quoted in a CNN-News 18 report.

The legendary engineer behind India's ambitious and expansive metro rail project in Delhi will join the saffron party during the BJP’s 'Vijaya Yathra' being organised from February 21.

BJP is likely to field him in the upcoming assembly elections in Kerala and Sreedharan has said he is open to contest the polls if the party wants.

“I have been living in Kerala for the past 10 years. I have seen both the UDF and the LDF rule. I feel that these rules have not brought any tangible progress to the state. Lot of things are possible in terms of industrialisation and employment opportunities for people. Not even one industry in the state in the last 20 years,” he was quoted as saying in the report cited above.

He also referred to the "Double Engine" theory of BJP which stresses on same governments in the Centre and the state for better growth.

Asked if he supported BJP raising 'love jihad', the term used by the rightwing to refer to conversion of Hindu women to Islam on the pretext of marriage to a Muslim man, and the party's stand on conserving the Sabrimala tradition of barring the entry of women between 10 and 50 years, Sreedharan told NDTV : "I believe in the party. This is the reason why I have joined the party. BJP's stand is correct."

Sreedharan said he wanted to join politics to make use of his time and experience in making a difference.

He accused the other political parties of "blind opposition" and showing India in a bad light.  "Political parties with vested interests are projecting India in a very bad light nationally and opposing just for the sake of opposing. Parties like the Congress are creating a bad image for India," he was quoted as saying by NDTV.

Sreedharan, who also led the metro railway projects in Jaipur, Lucknow and Kochi, was conferred with Padma Shri in 2001 and the Padma Vibhushan in 2008.

He came in the limelight when he worked on restoring the Pamban Bridge, the link between mainland India and Rameswaram island.

He had retired in 1990 as a senior railway engineer, but was brought on board again to plan and execute the Konkan Railway project, which is considered one of the most challenging railway projects, cutting through extremely difficult terrains. Sreedharan proved his skills by completing the project in less than fourth of the time initially assessed.