Chandrasekhar, the new BJP chief in Kerala, confronts his initial challenge - uncovering the smear poster campaign
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Synopsis
In the wake of Rajeev Chandrasekhar's appointment as the BJP's Kerala unit president, he is faced with a significant challenge involving a smear poster campaign against former district President V.V. Rajesh, demanding an investigation into his financial dealings.
Key Takeaways
- Rajeev Chandrasekhar has become the new BJP chief in Kerala.
- A poster campaign has emerged, targeting V.V. Rajesh.
- Allegations of financial misconduct have been made against Rajesh.
- Chandrasekhar vows to take action against any party members involved.
- Factionalism within the BJP in Kerala poses a significant challenge.
Thiruvananthapuram, March 26 (NationPress) Just two days after Rajeev Chandrasekhar assumed the role of the BJP's new president for the Kerala unit, he faced his first challenge on Wednesday - a poster campaign targeting the party's former Thiruvananthapuram district President V.V. Rajesh.
A multitude of posters appeared in and around the state BJP office in the capital and outside Rajesh's residence, calling for an Enforcement Directorate investigation into his financial transactions over the last decade.
The posters further claimed that the primary reason for Chandrasekhar's defeat to three-time Congress MP Shashi Tharoor in the Thiruvananthapuram Lok Sabha during the 2024 Parliamentary elections was due to Rajesh's sabotage, alleging he accepted funds from Congress leaders to help ensure Chandrasekhar's loss.
Chandrasekhar responded by stating that if BJP members were responsible for this, appropriate measures would be enforced.
In the meantime, Rajesh has turned to the police in a bid to uncover those behind the smear poster campaign.
The state BJP unit is heavily divided, and Chandrasekhar's appointment as the new state chief has been orchestrated by the national leadership of the party, which has long been cautioning the various factions.
Rajesh is aligned with the faction led by former state President K. Surendran, who is supported by former Union Minister V. Muraleedharan.
Interestingly, the announcement of Chandrasekhar as the candidate for the 2024 Thiruvananthapuram Lok Sabha seat stirred significant reactions as numerous local leaders from different factions had their sights set on the position.
Despite having no local roots in Thiruvananthapuram, Chandrasekhar was able to quickly establish a presence through a professionally managed election campaign that he personally oversaw, though he was cognizant of the deep factionalism within the party.
At one point, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during a party meeting, addressed the issue of factionalism in the state unit sternly - and the recent poster conflict clearly indicates that Chandrasekhar will face challenges ahead.
