Thiruvananthapuram: It is for the BJP central leadership to decide whether he should contest the Lok Sabha poll, Suresh Gopi MP has said. “No intimation has been given to me in this regard,” the Rajya Sabha MP added.

Though there were speculations that Suresh Gopi would be the BJP candidate from Thiruvananthapuram Lok Sabha seat, he had not reacted so far. Suresh Gopi’s first response on the matter has been to Manorama Online.

“Baseless reports are being circulated over the issue. My leader is Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Any decision regarding my candidature has to be taken by Modi, BJP national chief Amit Shah and national joint organising secretary B L Santhosh,” said Suresh Gopi.

“I will contest if these three leaders ask me to do so. However, they have not done it till now. At present, I am working towards increasing the trust reposed on me by the party leadership and the people,” said the MP.

Suresh Gopi pointed out that his Rajya Sabha term had three years and three months left. “I can continue in the post till 2022. A blueprint for various projects has been created till then and submitted to the Centre. Importance has been given to projects at Thiruvananthapuram, Vellayani, Thiruvalla and Perambra,” he said.

“The project at Thiruvalla is in honour of Mar Chisostom Metropolitan. Stress of the programmes is uplift of Dalit, Adivasi and other backward communities,” Suresh Gopi added.

The BJP leadership is planning to put up a strong candidate in Thiruvananthapuram. During the last Lok Sabha elections, Congress candidate Shashi Tharoor, who won the polls, had secured 2,97,806 votes while BJP’s O Rajagopal finished close behind with 2,82,336 votes. Tharoor’s majority had fallen significantly from the previous election to 15,470. Bennett Abraham of the CPI, representing the LDF, came third with 2,48,941 votes.

The BJP state unit believes that to capitalize on the advantage the party has gained after the Sabarimala issue, a strong candidate should be put up. They feel Suresh Gopi’s influence in the constituency would prove to be an advantage. But a final decision has to come from the national leadership.

A section of the BJP is also in favour of fielding former state party chief and Mizoram Governor Kummanam Rajasekharan. During the last Assembly polls, Kummanam had polled 43,700 votes and finished runner-up at Vattiyoorkavu in Thiruvananthapuram. The winner, K Muraleedharan of the Congress, had secured just 7,622 votes more. CPM’s T N Seema managed only the third place.

Meanwhile, Kummanam has also expressed his wish to return to Kerala. But he can do so only if the national leadership gives the nod. Other names being considered are party state chief P S Sreedharan Pillai and K Surendran. Pillai, being the state president, is unlikely to contest, according to those close to him. However, in this case too, it is the national leadership that has the final word.

Discussions on candidates have not officially started in the BJP. Only informal talks with alliance partners are now taking place. Though the prime minister is arriving in Kerala, no exchange of ideas on this topic is expected. The party, in fact, is all set to make the Sabarimala issue the main campaign plank and various community organisations are expected to support the BJP.

The Supreme Court is considering the pleas filed regarding the entry of young women to the Sabarimala temple on January 22. Stirs will be planned by the party after the decision of the apex court. Official talks on candidature will start subsequently. At present, BJP is deploying senior leaders to all constituencies to canvass maximum number of votes.