Rajeev Chandrasekhar is the Sole Nominee for Kerala BJP Chief Position

Thiruvananthapuram, March 23 (NationPress) Rajeev Chandrasekhar, a former Union Minister and prominent leader of the BJP, has officially put forth his nomination for the position of Kerala BJP state chief and is poised to take office unopposed.

The party’s state returning officer, Narayanan Namboodiri, released the election notification. Nominations remained open until 3 p.m. on Sunday, with scrutiny set for 4 p.m. the same day. Chandrasekhar was the sole candidate to submit his nomination.

An official declaration is anticipated on Monday, with Union Minister Prahlad Joshi, who oversees the BJP’s operations in Kerala, present at the announcement.

There had been widespread speculation that the BJP might prolong the term of the current state president, K. Surendran, despite the conclusion of his five-year tenure, given the forthcoming local body and Assembly elections.

Other senior figures, including M.T. Ramesh and Sobha Surendran, were also under consideration as the party approached its leadership decision. However, Chandrasekhar’s rise as the leading candidate follows his notable campaign against Congress MP Shashi Tharoor in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections for Thiruvananthapuram.

Although he narrowly lost by a margin of 16,077 votes, he significantly boosted the BJP’s performance in the constituency, achieving 35.52 percent of the vote share—marking the party’s best result ever in this seat, exceeding the previous record of 32.32 percent set by O. Rajagopal.

The BJP’s central leadership is banking on Chandrasekhar’s appeal to the youth and his commitment to development to fortify the party’s standing in Kerala, particularly with local elections approaching.

Nonetheless, his appointment comes with challenges. Within BJP and RSS circles, there are concerns regarding Chandrasekhar’s perceived disconnect with the party’s grassroots network in Kerala.

Unlike many in the state BJP leadership, Chandrasekhar does not originate from an RSS background—a significant influence in the party’s organizational framework in Kerala, where the RSS’s grassroots cadre is vital for mobilization and decision-making.

Though originally from Kerala, Chandrasekhar has spent the majority of his life and political career in Karnataka, having served three terms in the Rajya Sabha from that state.

His limited proficiency in Malayalam and lack of extensive involvement with Kerala’s socio-political landscape may present challenges as he takes on leadership in the state.

A senior BJP leader, who wished to remain anonymous, noted that Chandrasekhar would need to exert significant effort to dispel the “outsider” perception and cultivate trust within the state unit.

Outgoing BJP state President Surendran, while speaking to the press, confirmed that he did not anticipate a second term and expressed confidence in Chandrasekhar’s leadership.

“Rajeev Chandrasekhar is an excellent choice for the position,” he stated.

He also reassured other senior leaders, including state Vice President Sobha Surendran and General Secretary Ramesh, stating that they could be considered for important roles in the future.