Kerala polls 2026: BJP releases first list, names Rajeev Chandrasekhar and V Muraleedharan

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday released its first list of 47 candidates for the upcoming Kerala Assembly elections, fielding several key leaders, including former Union ministers George Kurian, Rajeev Chandrasekhar, V Muraleedharan and former state chief K Surendran. The list also includes Padmaja Venugopal, daughter of former Kerala chief minister K Karunakaran, PK Krishnadas, former director general of police R Sreelekha and filmmaker Major Ravi.

Among the prominent names, Rajeev Chandrasekhar has been fielded from the Nemom constituency, while Muraleedharan has been fielded from Kazhakkoottam, both key constituencies in the Thiruvananthapuram district.

Nemom is the only constituency in Kerala that has so far been won by the BJP, when O Rajagopal won the seat in the 2016 Assembly election. Several other constituencies are also expected to see closely fought battles. BJP leader K Surendran will contest from Manjeshwar, where the party is likely to face the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) in a direct contest.

Surendran is known for his long political journey that began with student activism in the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP). Over the years, he rose through the party ranks with organisational work and grassroots mobilisation. In the 2016 Assembly election in Manjeshwar, Surendran narrowly lost by just 89 votes, making it one of the closest electoral contests in Kerala politics. Senior BJP leader Shobha Surendran has been fielded from Palakkad, a seat where the main fight is expected to be between the Congress and the BJP.

In Vattiyoorkavu, the BJP has nominated former IPS officer R Sreelekha. The constituency is expected to witness a three-way contest involving the CPIM, Congress and the BJP. Padmaja Venugopal has been nominated from Thrissur. Padmaja joined the BJP after a long association with the Congress party and remains a well-known political figure in central Kerala. Fielding a mix of senior leaders and new faces as it prepares for the April 9 polls, the party is hoping to end its electoral drought in the state, where politics has traditionally been dominated by the CPI(M)-led LDF and the Congress-led UDF.

George Kurian will contest from the Kanjirappally constituency in Kottayam district. The seat is considered significant for the BJP as it seeks to expand its presence in Christian-dominated central Kerala constituencies in the election. A familiar political face in central Kerala, PC George has represented the Poonjar constituency several times in the Kerala Assembly. Before aligning with the BJP, he had earlier served as a leader of the Kerala Congress and had also contested elections as an independent candidate.

George has been active in Kerala politics for more than four decades and is known for his outspoken style in public life. Sreelekha earlier served in the Indian Police Service and made history as the first woman officer from Kerala to reach the rank of Director General of Police. After retiring from service, she entered politics and later joined the BJP. She was elected as a councillor in the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation in the local body polls held a few months ago.

In Kozhikode North, the party has nominated Navya Haridas, the state president of the BJP Mahila Morcha. A former software engineer, she had earlier worked in Singapore before returning to Kerala and entering public life.

Navya first gained attention in local politics after winning the Karaparamba ward in the Kozhikode Corporation. She has since been re-elected as a councillor and has been active in party organisational work.

In Ottapalam, the BJP has nominated Major Ravi, a retired Indian Army officer and filmmaker. Known for directing several Malayalam films based on military themes, Major Ravi earlier served in the Indian Army and the National Security Guard before entering politics.

Another senior leader in the fray is C Krishnakumar, who will contest from the Malampuzha constituency in Palakkad district. A State vice-president of the BJP, he earlier served as vice-chairperson of the Palakkad Municipality and has contested several elections in the region. The party has also fielded senior leader PK Krishnadas from the Kattakada constituency. Krishnadas, a former state president of the BJP in Kerala, is considered one of the key organisers who helped strengthen the party’s grassroots network in the state.

Among the younger leaders drawing attention in the party’s preparations is Anoop Antony Joseph, who is expected to contest from the Thiruvalla constituency. At 35, he represents a younger generation of leadership emerging within the BJP’s Kerala unit.

Another young leader in the fray is Shone George, who is contesting from the Pala constituency. An advocate and district panchayat member, he is the son of party leader PC George.

The BJP has also fielded former MLA K Ajith, who joined the party recently after quitting the CPI, from the Vaikom constituency.