BJP to rewrite history in Kerala this time, idea is to replace regular faces and bring in leaders with public image

THIRUVANANTHAURAM: The first list of candidates of the BJP for the Lok Sabha elections may be out in January. This is in the most likely constituencies. Some constituencies including Thrissur in Kerala are included in this. Candidates will be announced at the national level.

The election notification will be in the end of February or the first week of March. There are indications that there will be a surprise candidate in some constituencies including Thiruvananthapuram. In the 2016 assembly elections, except for O Rajagopal's victory from Nemom, it is difficult for the BJP to get a seat in Kerala. They were defeated in Nemom in the assembly elections held in 2021. This time, the BJP is trying to rewrite history.

A VVIP candidate is needed to capture Thiruvananthapuram, which has been won by Dr Shashi Tharoor, a member of the Congress Working Committee, a well-known person in the global level. The names of Union Ministers Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, External Affairs Minister Jaishankar and IT Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar are heard. It is almost certain that Suresh Gopi will contest in Thrissur. Union Minister V Muralidharan is likely to contest in Attingal. Names like Anil Antony, Major Ravi who came to the party are also being considered by the party.

Even though the BJP has no Lok Sabha MPs from Kerala, the party is preparing for the elections with more confidence this time by allowing many projects to the state and taking the Christian religious minorities in hand. The idea is to replace the regular faces and bring in leaders with public image. Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched various projects worth 4,500 crores in Kerala on last April 25. The Prime Minister inaugurated the Kochi Water Metro, inaugurated the electrified Dindigal-Palani-Palakkad railway line, inaugurated the renovation of several railway stations including Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode, and laid the foundation stone of the Digital Science Park. The party also pointed granting of two Vande Bharat trains to the state.