BJP state leaders fuming over reshuffle

Thiruvananthapuram: Soon after the reshuffle in the BJP state unit, many are unsatisfied over the national level reshuffle also. It is alleged that state vice president Sobha Surendran was removed from the national executive and P K Krishnadas was sidelined as a special invitee due to the intervention of some state leaders.

P K Krishnadas faction faced a major setback in the state unit. Five of the district presidents were removed after which issues first surfaced in Wayanad. In protest over the removal of Saji Sankar as district president, Bathery constituency unit president K B Madanlal resigned. Saji Sankar had not supported the party leaders in connection with the bribery case in which C K Janu was involved.

There were allegations that those who are in good books of BJP national general secretary (organisation) B L Santhosh were considered even for the posts in state office. The stand taken by Sobha Surendran will be crucial as she was removed despite meeting national leaders including Narendra Modi. The Centre had directed the state leaders not to consider rebels in the party.

Kummanam Rajasekharan, who does not belong to any particular faction, was included in the national executive along with union minister V Muraleedharan. But former state president P K Krishnadas was appointed as special invitee along with Metro Man E Sreedharan who joined the party just before the assembly polls. This was expected as Krishnadas was made the chairman of Railway Passengers Amenities Commission months before.

Krishnadas faction had expected vice president A N Radhakrishnan would be made general secretary. However, he was avoided as he is part of the core committee.