Kochi, Aug 03: The newly elected president of BJP's Kerala unit, P S Sreedharan Pillai, today said his party was growing in the state and the present political situation favoured his party. Assuming charge as the party chief after being elected unanimously at its two-day state council meeting, which concluded today, he said the recent controversial remarks of the Chief Minister A K Antony on the minorities had created a strong change in the minds of the majority community.

Many organisations and people belonging to the majority had openly supported the Chief Minister's opinion, he claimed. Pillai said the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre had achieved many things on various fronts including international relations in its nearly five-year rule which Congress could not achieve in its more than four decade rule.

BJP leader and party observer V P Goel, who announced the Pillai's unanimous election, also announced the list of 20 national council members, which included O Rajagopal, Union Minister of State for Defence, former state party presidents C K Padmanabhan and K V Sreedharan.

Speaking on the occasion, Goel said the party was growing in the state and in the next elections, BJP men would be seen in the assembly and in the Parliament. C K Padmanabhan, outgoing president, called upon the party workers to work hard and make the party a major force in the state.

O Rajagopal, in his speech expressed his confidence that the party would grow further in the state under the leadership of Pillai.

Bureau Report