CHENGANNUR: It is almost clear that BJP State president P S Sreedharan will contest the Lok Sabha election from Pathanamthitta. The expectation was that party general secretary Surendran would be the candidate there.

Meanwhile, excluding Surendran in constituency that include Sabarimala has resulted in resentment within the Sangh Parivar.

The BJP candidates will be announced on March 16. If the Central leadership doesn’t interfere by then, Surendran’s name will not be there in the fray.

There are also rumours that Surendran, who had spent maxim days in jail, has been excluded in the name of Manjeswaram by-election. Bu it is also said that this is the result of Sreedharan Pillai’s assessment that in Pathanamthitta, which has a strong Christian presence, mere Hindu votes would not help the BJP.

Pillai’s aides say that he would be able to win the election considering his good relationship with certain Christian community organisations, Nair community and due to chances for getting votes in the name of Sabarimala issue. But K Surendran supporters say that he also has equal chance to win the election.