While the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has not made any official announcement about candidates, differences have reportedly emerged in the Manjeswaram assembly constituency over hints that former state president K. Surendran may contest the upcoming assembly elections.
Party sources said differences of opinion had emerged between district leaders and grassroots workers as speculation about Mr Surendran’s candidature gained momentum. The report suggests that BJP district president ML Ashwini has demanded that she be relieved of her role in-charge of Manjeswaram constituency. According to party sources, she mainly complained that Mr. Surendran’s programs and engagements in the constituency were not communicated in advance.
Ms Ashwini, who was a National Democratic Alliance (NDA) candidate from the Kasaragod Lok Sabha constituency in the last general elections, was also learned to have raised concerns at a party meeting about the lack of cooperation of some leaders in coordinating organizational activities in the constituency.
Meanwhile, some district leaders alleged that NDA Manjeswaram constituency convener and BJP area vice-president Vijayakumar Rai took the decision unilaterally. They alleged that decisions on political programs and meetings in the constituency are taken without the involvement of all concerned leaders.
Mr. Surendran has reportedly stepped up his activities in the constituency amid hints that he might contest from Manjeswaram. He holds meetings with party workers in various areas and attends organizational meetings across the constituency.
However, Ms. Ashwini denied reports that she was trying to shed her role as Manjeswaram constituency leader. In an interview with the media, she said the claims were baseless and claimed there was no current rift within the party.
She said all leaders are working together to strengthen the organization and prepare for the upcoming elections. She added that the final decision on the candidate for Manjeswaram will be taken by the party’s state leadership and that speculation will end once the announcement is made.
Ms. Ashwini also said that no district committee meeting was held in the last few days. She added that the differences she had earlier with Vijayakumar Rai had been resolved and that the BJP was united to face the upcoming elections.
Published – 10 March 2026 20:49 IST
