Thiruvananthapuram: The BJP has released its first list of candidates for the upcoming assembly elections, announcing 47 names on Tuesday. The list features several prominent figures who recently defected to the BJP from the CPI and Congress. An official press release stated that the selection was finalised following a high-level meeting attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Home Minister Amit Shah.

BJP state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar will contest from Nemom, while former state chief K Surendran is set to seek a mandate from Manjeshwar in Kasaragod district. Other key candidates include Navya Haridas from Kozhikode North, Sobha Surendran from Palakkad, and Padmaja Venugopal from Thrissur. Major Ravi will contest from Ottapalam, with Shaun George and P C George standing from Pala and Poonjar respectively.

The list also includes former DGP R Sreelekha from Vattiyoorkavu and V Muraleedharan from Kazhakkoottam. P K Krishnadas will contest from Kattakkada, while Adv P Sudheer has been fielded in Attingal.

Further candidates include Manulal Meloth (Uduma), Balaraj M (Kanhangad), A P Gangadharan (Payyannur), K K Vinod Kumar (Azhikode) and C Raghunath (Kannur). In Wayanad, P Syam Raj (Mananthavady ST) and Kavitha A S (Sulthan Bathery ST) will represent the party.

In Kozhikode district, the candidates are Adv K Dileep (Vadakara), Ramadas Manaleri (Kuttyadi), C P Vipin Chandran (Nadapuram), C R Praphul Krishnan (Quilandy), M Mohanan Master (Perambra), C P Satheesan (Balussery SC), T Devadas (Elathur), T Raneesh (Kozhikode South), Adv KP Prakash Babu (Beypore) and V K Sajeevan (Kunnamangalam).

Other notable names include Shanku T Das (Shornur), C Krishnakumar (Malampuzha), K Balakrishnan (Chelakkara SC), Adv K K Aneesh Kumar (Manalur), Santhosh Cherakulam (Irinjalakuda), S Rajendran (Devikulam SC), K Ajith (Vaikom SC), and Adv George Kurian (Kanjirappally).

The initial phase also features Arun Anirudhan (Ambalappuzha), Sandeep Vachaspati (Haripad), M V Gopakumar (Chengannur), Anoop Antony Joseph (Thiruvalla), V S Jithin Dev (Karunagappally), Raji Prasad (Kunnathur SC), R Rashmi (Kottarakkara), B B Gopakumar (Chathannoor), Yuvaraj Gokul (Nedumangad), and Adv Gireesh Neyyar (Parassala).

BJP list of candidates for 47 seats

CandidateConstituency
Rajeev ChandrasekharNemom
K SurendranManjeshwar
Sobha SurendranPalakkad
R SreelekhaVattiyoorkavu
V MuraleedharanKazhakkoottam
Padmaja VenugopalThrissur
Major RaviOttappalam
PC GeorgePoonjar
Shaun GeorgePala
S RajendranDevikulam (SC)
R RashmiKottarakkara
PK KrishnadasKattakkada
Navya HaridasKozhikode North
Adv P SudheerAttingal (SC)
Shanku T DasShornur
C KrishnakumarMalampuzha
Adv George KurianKanjirappally
Sandeep VachaspatiHaripad
K AjithVaikom (SC)
Anoop Antony JosephThiruvalla
Adv K DileepVadakara
Ramadas ManaleriKuttiadi
CP Vipin ChandranNadapuram
CR Praphul KrishnanQuilandy
M Mohanan MasterPerambra
CP SatheesanBalussery (SC)
T DevadasElathur
T RaneeshKozhikode South
Adv KP Prakash BabuBeypore
VK SajeevanKunnamangalam
Manulal MelothUduma
Balraj MKanhangad
AP GangadharanPayyannur
KK Vinod KumarAzhikode
C RaghunathKannur
P Shyam RajMananthavady (ST)
Kavitha ASSulthanbathery (ST)
K BalakrishnanChelakkara (SC)
Adv KK Aneesh KumarManalur
Santhosh CherakulamIrinjalakuda
Arun AnirudhanAmbalappuzha
MV GopakumarChengannur
VS Jithin DevKarunagappally
Raji PrasadKunnathur (SC)
BB GopakumarChathannoor
Yuvaraj GokulNedumangad
Adv Gireesh NeyyarParassala