THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The national leadership is holding talks with Shobha Surendran in connection with the selection of candidate in Kazhakoottam. The crucial meeting is taking place at a time when there is a lot of enthusiasm among the BJP ranks on who will be the candidate in Kazhakoottam to replace Union Minister V Muraleedharan. There are speculations that the constituency was kept vacant for Shobha Surendran.

Kazhakoottam, Kollam and Karunagappally were kept vacant in the BJP list yesterday. Though it is said that they are looking for a candidate in Kollam and Karunagappally, Kazhakoottam is not like that for the BJP. Kazhakoottam, where V Muraleedharan came second last time, is BJP's A plus constituency.

There were speculations that though the central leadership suggested the name of Shobha Surendran in Kazhakoottam, it was not included in the list as the state leadership was not interested. Although her name was heard in Chathanoor in the probable list, she did not find a place in the final list. Those close to Shobha Surendran alleged that K Surendran dropped her name after threatening to resign.