Kochi/Pathanamthitta: Four leaders are in the list of probables in the race for the post of BJP chief in Kerala. The names of K Surendran, M T Ramesh, A N Radhakrishnan and Sobha Surendran were suggested for the top post at a meeting attended by national leaders of the party here on Friday.
The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the parent organisation of the BJP, has informed that it would take a neutral stance on the selection.
However, it is learnt that Surendran is a favourable among the members of the party core committee and state office-bearers.
BJP national secretary in-charge, Kerala, H Raja and party MP Nalin Kumar Kateel met the party's state and district leadership to understand their views on the appointment of new state unit president, party sources said.
Raja and Kateel held one to one meetings with the party's state core committee members and district level leaders.
Both Raja and Kateel also met senior party leaders, including O Rajagopal MLA, V Muraleedharan MP and other former presidents including Sreedharan Pillai as part of the exercise to appoint the new president, the sources said.
Raja, while refusing to speak of differences in the state unit over the names suggested by various sections, said the decision would be taken by party chief Amit Shah and prime minister Narendra Modi.
The post of party state unit president fell vacant after Kummanam Rajasekharan was appointed the governor of Mizoram.
Hectic parleys were on in party forums and speculations are rife in political circles as to who would replace Kummanam at a time when the party is gearing up for the Lok Sabha elections due next year.
(With inputs from agencies)