BJP organizational election process begins in Kerala; Sobha Surendran, MT Ramesh vie top posts

Thodupuzha: While the BJP's organizational election process in Kerala has commenced at the grassroots level in Thodupuzha, informal discussions and efforts also kickstarted to reach a consensus on selecting the new state president.

The booth-level elections are currently underway, followed by elections for constituency and district presidents. The process will culminate in the selection of the new state president by the end of January, with the person set to assume office by February.

At present, there is a possibility of reaching an agreement in favour of the party's general secretary, M.T. Ramesh. However, the name of party vice president Sobha Surendran is also reportedly under consideration.

If consensus on Ramesh does not materialize in the final stages, Sobha Surendran's name may emerge as a contender for the state president's post. Ramesh has strong support due to his long-standing political legacy.

Meanwhile, Sobha Surendran's success in expanding the party's vote share in every constituency she had contested had also made her a strong contender to lead the party in the state.

Former Union Minister V. Muraleedharan, who is already part of the national leadership, is expected to receive significant position within the national organization. There is ongoing competition within the party for the state president's position, with several leaders positioning themselves for the role. Allegations against certain candidates, coupled with the resurfacing of old controversies, have led many party leaders to reason that personal and group interests are vying for the top post.

The final decision regarding the new state president will be made by the national leadership, which will base its choice on consultations with state leaders and its own assessment criteria. The national leadership is gathering information and conducting evaluations on what would be most beneficial for the party in the upcoming state elections. There will also be communication with the RSS leadership in Kerala to discuss these matters.