Kozhikode: Kerala BJP state president K Surendran, who is the NDA candidate in Wayanad for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, has a total of 243 criminal cases registered against him. BJP’s mouthpiece ‘Janmabhumi’ published a three page-long report on cases registered against their beloved leader ahead of nomination filing.

Even in 2019 parliamentary elections, Surendran had topped the list when it comes to being the candidate with maximum number of cases registered against him. At that time he had carried a burden of 240 cases on his shoulders, three less than what it is now. Even this time round, the saffron party leader maintains a steady lead, leaving behind the rest of the candidates by quite a margin, when it comes to the number of criminal cases registered against them.

The Kozhikode-born leader has an array of charges against him which includes attempt to murder and instigating communal violence. He has also been accused of threatening people, destroying public property and also of passing distasteful comments. He has numerous cases in connection with the ‘Sabarimala Protests’ as well. 

According to the BJP, K Surendran stands out as their star candidate, with an 'impressive' political career spanning decades. This was officially stated in the Election Commission column, outlining why the party selected the veteran leader to contest in the electoral battle.