Thiruvananthapuram: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is reportedly considering film actor Unni Mukundan and former Kerala DGP R Sreelekha as key candidates for the Palakkad constituency in the upcoming Kerala Assembly elections, according to party sources. There are also indications that Sobha Surendran is not interested in contesting from Palakkad, while filmmaker Major Ravi and youth leader Prasanth Sivan remain under consideration.

The BJP conducted an extensive internal survey ahead of candidate selection. The survey revealed that Unni Mukundan, Major Ravi, and R Sreelekha ranked highly in candidate preference, with party workers suggesting that nominating any of the three could significantly strengthen the BJP’s prospects in Palakkad.

For strategic planning and constituency assessment, the BJP engaged Varahe Analytics to conduct data-based studies and recommend candidates. The firm, which has been working for months, reportedly submitted its preliminary findings to the party leadership. The agency’s evaluation suggested that Unni Mukundan had a high probability of securing victory in the Palakkad constituency.

However, reports indicate that the BJP leadership has not yet officially approached those individuals in the spotlight. Alongside the top names, the survey also highlighted Pramila Sasidharan, C Krishnakumar, P. K. Krishna Das, and Prasanth Sivan as potential contenders backed by local cadres.

Following the party’s structured selection process, the state leadership will review the agency’s recommendations and finalise a panel of candidates. The final list will then be submitted to the BJP central leadership, after which the official announcement is expected from New Delhi.