BJP faces growing unrest in Kerala as group infighting stalls district president reorganisation

Kollam: The BJP leadership in Kerala is dealing with internal divisions as it prepares for the district president elections. This internal conflict also reflects the growing ‘rebel movement’ seen in Palakkad.

State treasurer E Krishnadas and state general secretary C Krishnakumar were once aligned with the K Surendran (Kerala BJP chief) faction. However, they parted ways, with Krishnadas joining the anti-Krishnakumar camp. Despite temporary intervention by the RSS, tensions between the factions have continued to rise.

The district president elections have seen clashes even within the same faction. In areas like Thrissur, Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam, and Kozhikode, multiple candidates from the pro-Surendran camp have emerged. After an opinion poll, several candidates chose to break away from the group system. Discord is also visible in Krishnadas faction, especially in Kollam and surrounding areas. A section of Krishnadas camp attempted to field former Youth Morcha state secretary G. Hari as a candidate, but this did not materialise.

Delays expected

The ongoing infighting is expected to delay the declaration of district office-bearers. Sources suggest that the announcement will be made only after the new state president takes office. The choice of the new state president is expected to shift the balance between the factions.

The declaration of district presidents for Thiruvananthapuram South, Pathanamthitta, and Idukki North, which was delayed due to disputes, will also happen only after the new state president takes charge. In Pathanamthitta, the delay followed an assault complaint against a district leader who participated in the opinion poll. National secretary Anil Antony intervened, leading to the postponement.