NEW DELHI: Senior BJP leader and union minister V Muraleedharan has said that Balashankar’s was a sentimental reaction. “Other than that no importance should be given to that allegation. Press persons should not become any political party’s middlemen. The candidate is determined by the central election committee. There is no BJP leader above it. Seats are not given out of my pocket,” the union minister said.

V Muraleedharan further said that Shobha Surendran is a victory deserving candidate. "The centre has intervened not only in the case of Kazhakootam but also in all other 139 constituencies. I have only said that if the party decides then I will contest in Kazhakootam. I don’t know on what grounds M T Ramesh said that there will be a suspense candidate in Kazhakootam,” he added.

“I will use all might to take Shobha Surendran to the assembly. I have told this to Shobha Surendran too. Last time I failed in Kazhakootam for 7,000 votes. Therefore all partymen including myself were waiting for a candidate who can bridge that gap and Shobha Surendran is an appropriate candidate. I called her up when her candidature was declared and bid her all the very best for the assembly polls,” he told presspersons.