Kozhikode: K Surendran, BJP state president and the NDA candidate for the Lok Sabha election, said that it is necessary to change the name of Sulthan Bathery, a town in Wayanad district, to 'Ganapathivattom'. 

The BJP leader claimed that the name 'Sultan Bathery' came as part of foreign rule in the area. Instead, he suggests naming the place 'Ganapathivattom'. 

Speaking at a press conference here, Surendran claimed that the matter was first brought to the attention of the public by Pramod Mahajan in 1984. 

Meanwhile, Surendran also said that the remand report linked to the Panoor Bomb Blast Case is of a serious nature. He claimed that the bombs were intended to harm BJP-RSS workers and disrupt the elections, urging the Election Commission to investigate.  He also criticised the Kerala Chief Minister for his silence on the matter.