Kottayam: Even as the faction-ridden Kerala unit of the BJP is finding it hard to find suitable candidates for the Lok Sabha election, it has almost decided on fielding former Mizoram Governor Kummanam Rajasekharan and general secretary K Surendran.
Kummanam, the former state chief of the party, is set to contest from Thiruvananthapuram, while Surendran is being considered from the Pathanamthitta constituency despite his reluctance to contest from this seat which is a Congress bastion. (Congress' Anto Antony has been representing this constituency for a decade after wins in 2009 and 2014).
BJP's central leadership has suggested BDJS president Thushar Vellappally be given the Thrissur seat. Surendran reportedly wants to contest from Thrissur, but the central leadership has suggested Thushar. If Thushar opts out, Surendran will contest from Thrissur and BJP state president PS Sreedharan Pillai moved to Pathanamthitta.
BJP national president Amit Shah will meet Thushar today. (Bharat Dharma Jana Sena or BDJS is an alliance partner of the BJP in the NDA, National Democratic Alliance.)
Results of zonal surveys held to measure popularity of candidates were discussed in the core committee meeting yesterday. The central leadership will be handed the report soon.
Most popular leader in the survey was Surendran, who led Sabarimala protests from the front.
CV Ananda Bose (for Kollam), Dr Biju (Alappuzha) and Minority Morcha leader Anoop Antony (Chalakkudy) were suggested by the central leadership. Monday’s meeting also discussed MT Ramesh (Kozhikode), Shobha Surendran and C Krishnakumar (Palakkad). Central representative Nirmal Kumar Surana, Y Satyakumar, state leaders O Rajagopal MLA, Sreedharan Pillai and PK Krishnadas participated.
The multi-phase Lok Sabha election is set to commence on April 11. Kerala will vote on April 23, Tuesday.