Thiruvananthapuram: Sobha Surendran, the state vice-president of the BJP, has been included in a three-member list of potential candidates for the upcoming by-elections in two constituencies. Her name appears for both the Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency and the Palakkad Assembly constituency. The list also features K. Surendran, the state president, for Palakkad.

In Wayanad, other names from the state committee include M.T. Ramesh, the state general secretary, and A.P. Abdullakutty, the national vice-president. For the Palakkad constituency, C. Krishnakumar is the other individual on the list. Additionally, local leaders Dr. T.N. Sarasu, Shajumon Vattekkad, and Balakrishnan have been mentioned in connection with the Chelakkara constituency.

Also Read

placeholder

Hearbreaking, ADM Naveen Babu was an honest official, says Minister Veena George

The central leadership is expected to announce the candidates either on Thursday or Friday. It is common for the national leadership to consider individuals outside the state committee's submitted list.

Krishnakumar has been identified as a candidate of interest to the state leadership for Palakkad. Supporters are advocating for local candidates from Palakkad for this winnable seat. Hence there are recommendations for featuring Krishnakumar who is a local resident. However, some party leaders have begun to rally for Sobha’s candidacy. Proponents of Sobha point to her track record of increasing the party's vote share in every election, arguing for her selection in Palakkad.

Both Sobha and Krishnakumar have previously contested elections—Sobha has contested from Palakkad in both the Lok Sabha and Kerala Assembly elections, while Krishnakumar has run for the Lok Sabha from the Palakkad seat and also attempted the Assembly seat from Malampuzha.