KOCHI: R Balashankar has given final confirmation on his candidature from Chengannur. He had said that if he will only contest from Chengannur if the party asks him to enter into the poll fray. He also said that he is not going to contest from elsewhere except Chengannur and he will only contest if the party demands.

“I am interested to contest from Chengannur but the final decision should come from the state leadership. Whatever is the intention of the leaders, it will be fulfilled. As am from Chengannur, I would like to contest from there. I still have warm relations with many persons from Chengannur. I neither intend to become active in Kerala politics nor want to be a part of the state leadership,” Balashankar said.

Balashankar who has been working with the national leadership for decades is currently the head of the party’s intellectual cell. He is coming back to Kerala as central leaders including Modi himself asked him to be active in the state politics.

Balashankar started his career in Delhi 30 years ago as a journalist. Later he came close to RSS and the organisation deputed him and Narendra Modi to write a book on the activities of the Sangh during the national emergency period.

The book ‘Narendra Modi, creative disruptor’ written by Balashankar was published by BJP in eight languages. He also functioned as the editor of RSS mouthpiece, the organiser for a long time. In the recently held local body polls, BJP bagged 38,666 votes. Therefore, the party is considering Chengannur constituency with high hopes.