Brewing rebellion against K Surendran? Three key leaders skip BJP's organizational meeting

KOCHI: The BJP's defeat in the Palakkad assembly constituency by-election, coupled with allegations of vote leakage, has triggered fresh internal strife within the party's Kerala unit. The absence of three senior leaders from the party's first organizational meeting after the election results has intensified speculation of a brewing rebellion against State President K. Surendran.

Prominent leaders P K Krishnadas, M T Ramesh and A N Radhakrishnan abstained from the meeting held in Kochi, fueling rumors that the Krishnadas faction is demanding Surendran's removal. Notably, Shobha Surendran, a vocal critic of the leadership, attended the meeting, which was convened to discuss preparations for organizational elections.

K. Surendran downplayed the absences, stating that participation in such routine meetings is not mandatory. “Fourteen members were absent from today’s meeting. It is not feasible for 100 percent attendance every time. There is no factionalism; we have only one group, and that is the BJP,” Surendran asserted.

The official explanation has done little to quell the speculation. Observers note that no prominent leaders from the Krishnadas faction were present, suggesting deeper discontent within the party.

The BJP's performance in the Palakkad municipality, considered a stronghold, has been a source of contention. BJP candidate C. Krishnakumar's second-place finish was a setback, with Surendran's faction blaming municipal councilors for the drop in votes. However, the councilors have hit back, accusing the leadership of scapegoating them for failures in candidate selection.