The BJP, which is determined not just to “open account” in Kerala but also to become a decisive force in the Assembly in the upcoming State election, has completed the first stage of its poll preparations by drawing up a preliminary list of leading candidates.
As per the preliminary list, on which an understanding was reportedly reached at in the State BJP’s core committee meeting held the other day, top leaders will contest in seats which the party feels confident of winning. “The question this time is not whether we can win a seat. This election will see our first leap towards capturing power in the State,” said a senior BJP leader.
Among the top BJP leaders who may be fielded in the Assembly election to be held most probably towards the end of April are State president Kummanam Rajasekharan, senior leader and former Union minister O Rajagopal, party’s election committee chief V Muraleedharan and former presidents CK Padmanabhan, PS Sreedharan Pillai and PK Krishnadas.
Sources said that the BJP, as leader of the NDA, was planning to field candidates in 100 of the total 140 Assembly seats in the State. A recent survey had predicted that the BJP might win up to six seats in the Assembly polls but party leaders claimed that they expected a better result than that. The BJP has so far not been able to win an Assembly or Parliament seat in Kerala.
Rajagopal, now 86, may be fielded in Nemom constituency in Thiruvananthapuram. Kummanam, State party president, may be fielded in Vattiyoorkkavu. State party chief Muraleedharan is to contest Kazhakkoottam.
The man selected to contest in the Manjeswaram seat, is State general secretary K Surendran.