Unni Mukundan in Pathanamthitta, A-class constituency for K S Chithra? BJP to rope in prominent names for LS polls

KOZHIKODE: BJP Kerala is working day and night to unveil new strategies to make a presence in the communist bastion of Kerala. In the newly revealed grand design, the BJP will introduce not just prominent political personalities as candidates but film stars and popular artists will also find a place in the list. The leadership want personalities who are such popular that they can easily bring votes from all sections of society.

In the total of 20 Lok Sabha seats in Kerala, BJP will field popular personalities in 10 seats. The leadership arrived at this decision after taking into account the high acceptance that people showed to film star Suresh Gopi in Thrissur.

Actor Unni Mukundan is being considered for Pathanamthitta, one of the constituencies where BJP reaped votes in previous years mostly due to the Sabarimala wave. Unni Mukundan’s decision lies in ambiguity though the actor is known for his espousal of Sangh politics and was seen elated during the recent Ram temple inauguration.

Apart from Unni Mukundan, Kummanam Rajasekharan and PC George are also being considered for Pathanamthitta. Meanwhile, the BJP leadership is said to have approached nightingale K S Chithra to contest the Lok Sabha election in BJP colours. If Chithra gives a yes nod, then Thiruvananthapuram or Attingal will be allotted to the singer. However, there are fewer chances for Chithra to accept the offer after the singer was dejected over the unwanted controversy that circled her during the Ram temple ceremony.

Another move is to consider PT Usha, who is also a Rajya Sabha MP in the Kozhikode constituency. The leadership believes Usha can also rope in votes from people who are not aligned with the BJP side of politics. The Alappuzha constituency may be given to Tushar Vellappally and Rahul Gandhi's constituency Wayanad will come back to BJP’s hands. In that case, there is a possibility to consider AP Abdullakkutty or Anil Antony here.