Rajeev Chandrasekhar accuses Malayalam media of fake news campaign against BJP Kerala
Synopsis
BJP Kerala President Rajeev Chandrasekhar has gone on the offensive against a section of the Malayalam media, alleging a coordinated campaign of fabricated reports targeting the party. The broadside arrives as the Kerala unit continues to navigate years of internal factional tensions — the very divisions his appointment was meant to resolve.
Key Takeaways
BJP Kerala President Rajeev Chandrasekhar on 27 July accused select Malayalam media outlets of publishing baseless, unverified reports against the party.
Chandrasekhar alleged journalists did not seek the party's version or verify facts before publishing the reports.
He warned that 'the people of Kerala will reject' stories passed off as news without factual basis.
The BJP's central leadership appointed Chandrasekhar as Kerala unit president last year to bridge factional divides — a role previously held by leaders with deeper local roots.
A former Union Minister, Chandrasekhar built his political base in Bengaluru before taking charge of the Kerala unit.
BJP Kerala President and MLA Rajeev Chandrasekhar on Monday, 27 July accused a section of the Malayalam media of running a coordinated disinformation campaign against the party, alleging that certain outlets published baseless and fabricated reports without seeking the party's version or verifying facts with its media team.
The Allegations
In a sharply worded statement issued in Thiruvananthapuram, Chandrasekhar said the BJP had taken serious note of what he described as organised attacks by select media houses over the preceding few days. He alleged that the journalists responsible had not followed even the basic tenets of the profession.
'These reports are completely false and factually incorrect. They are not based on verified information but are concocted stories that place greater emphasis on imagination than facts. If baseless stories are passed off as news, the people of Kerala will reject them,' Chandrasekhar said.
He added: 'Publishing fake, fabricated and unverified rumours is not journalism.' Calling on reporters to uphold professional standards, he said there was no substitute for honest, fact-based reporting.
Context: BJP Kerala's Internal Struggles
The statement comes against a backdrop of longstanding factional tensions within the BJP's Kerala unit. Like the Indian National Congress (Congress) and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI-M), the Kerala BJP has grappled with internal rivalries that have repeatedly overshadowed its organisational efforts. The party's central leadership has on several occasions cautioned state leaders against factionalism.
It was precisely to end those divisions and present a unified front that the party appointed Chandrasekhar as Kerala unit president last year — a significant departure from its traditional leadership pattern in the state.
Who Is Rajeev Chandrasekhar
A former Union Minister, Rajeev Chandrasekhar built his political career largely in Bengaluru and had limited direct political association with Kerala before being entrusted with the state unit's leadership. The central leadership viewed him as a consensus figure capable of bridging factional divides and strengthening the organisation from within.
BJP Kerala's Stated Priorities
Reiterating the party's focus, Chandrasekhar said BJP leaders and workers in Kerala remain committed to public service and to the goal of a 'developed Kerala,' rather than being drawn into what he characterised as politically motivated media narratives. Critics, however, may note that the statement itself arrives amid renewed scrutiny of the party's internal cohesion in the state.
Whether the media outlets named implicitly will respond to the allegations remains to be seen, and the episode is likely to sharpen the ongoing debate over press standards and political accountability in Kerala.
Point of View
' the BJP Kerala unit is attempting to pre-empt scrutiny at a moment when its internal cohesion remains fragile. Notably, the same central leadership that appointed an outsider to fix Kerala's factionalism is now watching that outsider fight a media battle rather than consolidate ground. The more substantive question — whether the specific reports in question were in fact inaccurate — goes unaddressed in the statement, which relies entirely on assertion. Kerala's media ecosystem, historically robust and politically diverse, is unlikely to yield to pressure without a factual rebuttal.
NationPress
27 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Rajeev Chandrasekhar allege against the Malayalam media?
Rajeev Chandrasekhar alleged that a section of the Malayalam media ran a coordinated campaign against the BJP by publishing baseless, fabricated reports without verifying facts or seeking the party's response. He called the reports 'concocted stories' that prioritised imagination over facts.
Why was Rajeev Chandrasekhar appointed BJP Kerala unit president?
The BJP's central leadership appointed Chandrasekhar as Kerala unit president last year to bridge longstanding factional divides within the state unit. He was seen as a consensus figure from outside Kerala's entrenched political networks, though his career was primarily built in Bengaluru.
What is the BJP Kerala's history of internal factionalism?
The BJP's Kerala unit has witnessed recurring factional feuds over the years, similar in pattern to those seen in the Congress and CPI-M. The central leadership had on multiple occasions cautioned state leaders against factionalism before deciding to appoint an external figure to stabilise the unit.
Did Chandrasekhar name specific media outlets or journalists?
No. Chandrasekhar's statement referred to 'a section' of the Malayalam media and 'certain media houses' without naming specific outlets or journalists. He alleged that those responsible had not followed basic journalistic practices such as seeking the party's version before publishing.
What is the BJP Kerala's stated focus amid this controversy?
Chandrasekhar said the BJP's leadership and workers in Kerala remain committed to public service and the goal of a 'developed Kerala,' and should not be distracted by what he described as politically motivated narratives in the media.
