BJP: Current presidents may continue in Kerala and Tamil Nadu

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: K Surendran and K Annamalai are likely to continue as state presidents in the event of assembly elections in Kerala and Tamil Nadu in 2026. The state leadership has received the central leadership's circular regarding the election process. Nominations will be submitted tomorrow. The new president will be announced after the party's state council meets in Thiruvananthapuram on Monday or Tuesday. Prahlad Joshi, Prabhari Prakash Javadekar, former Union Minister V. Muraleedharan and others will participate.

The central leaders will come with a possibility list in the event that there is no consensus in the state regarding the appointment of the state president. Based on that, they will ask to submit nomination papers. Later, a meeting will be held with the representatives of the state. After that, Prahlad Joshi will announce the state president.

The central government has directed that preparations for the local body elections to be held this year in the state should begin this month. The number of constituencies and district units in the state has been increased by dividing them. Presidents for all these have also been elected. However, due to the failure to appoint a state president, office bearers including the secretary have not been appointed in any of these units. This has stalled the party's activities.

Rajeev Chandrasekhar and V Muraleedharan have informed the national leadership that they will not become the state president. Rajeev Chandrasekhar will leave tomorrow to visit countries including the US to participate in international conferences related to AI. Muraleedharan has the responsibility of northeastern states. Muraleedharan may be considered for the post of national general secretary of the party.

With the assembly elections also coming up, the party aims to actively secure more seats in election activities without disturbing the organizational leadership. If K Surendran is declared the party president without conditions, he can continue in the post for up to three years.