Kozhikode: The national leadership of the BJP has expedited the process to appoint a new state president for Kerala, with plans to have the new leader by March. The names of former Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar and the current state general secretary M T Ramesh are being considered for the state president's role. The decision also includes bringing in new district presidents across Kerala during this period. The upcoming local body elections will be entirely managed by the newly formed committee, and the restructuring is being completed in preparation for the large-scale election efforts that the state will undertake.

The current plan is to implement a recommendation for those who have held positions for five years to step down. As a result, K Surendran, the current state president, will not be able to continue in the role. Despite various criticisms against Surendran from within Kerala, the national leadership evaluates that he has performed well as the state president. There are indications that Surendran might be considered for a Rajya Sabha seat or a Central ministerial position instead.

Among Rajeev Chandrasekhar and M T Ramesh, former is receiving the primary consideration from the national leadership. Discussions on this matter have been held between the BJP’s national leadership and the RSS leadership. Rajeev Chandrasekhar is already aware of the group conflicts within Kerala's BJP and the practical challenges of maintaining a permanent presence in the state. However, the leadership has now put pressure on him to take on the state president position. The next step is to see what position he takes regarding this offer.

A Leader for all sections

The central BJP leadership and the RSS are focused on finding a leader who can appeal to all sections of society. The preference is for a leader who can influence the younger generation, and this is why Rajeev Chandrasekhar is receiving special consideration. His work as a Central minister, as well as his potential to help the party gain acceptance in Kerala, a state with high literacy, are key factors. The leadership also sees appointing Rajeev Chandrasekhar as state president as a solution to his dissatisfaction over giving a ministerial berth to Suresh Gopi.

The strategy to win more seats in the upcoming local body elections involves directly engaging with beneficiaries of various Central Government schemes to ensure their votes. The leadership believes that Rajeev Chandrasekhar, who previously served as an MP and Union minister, is well-equipped to communicate effectively with the public and achieve strong results.

The leadership will also focus on meeting beneficiaries of Central Government schemes in sectors such as agriculture, health and startups. They plan to initiate discussions on major issues like excessive taxation, a topic that has been widely debated among the middle class. The leadership believes Rajeev Chandrasekhar’s leadership will benefit the party in addressing such concerns.

Rajeev Chandrasekhar has already expressed his intention to expand his activities around Thiruvananthapuram, a promising sign for the leadership. Meanwhile, the Central leadership is also evaluating how the internal party dynamics will respond if Rajeev Chandrasekhar becomes the state president instead of M T Ramesh. There are also plans to bring M T Ramesh to "working president" position.

Meanwhile, senior leader Sobha Surendran recently met Union Minister Amit Shah and others for discussions. Though her name had been mentioned initially, the final names under consideration are those of Rajeev Chandrasekhar and M T Ramesh. A decision on Sobha Surendran’s position will be made soon. If Rajeev Chandrasekhar declines the role, M T Ramesh will likely be appointed as the state president.

M T Ramesh’s long-term experience, the support from RSS, his excellent organisational skills and his acceptance across different groups within the party make him a favourable candidate.