K Surendran takes over as Kerala BJP chief; 50-yr-old firebrand says state party has strength to make ‘political leap’

Thiruvananthapuram: Firebrand chief K Surendran, who arrived into limelight just after the BJP and right wing outfits-led Sabarimala temple protests versus entry of young women of all ages into the shrine, on Saturday took about as the chief of BJP’s Kerala device. He assumed demand as the state president at the saffron party’s headquarters, Mararji Bhavan in the existence of hundreds of employees and senior leaders which include Union minister V Muraleedharan and BJP nationwide secretary H Raja.

Previous 7 days, BJP president JP Nadda experienced appointed Surendran as the party’s Kerala device chief. With this appointment, the party’s point out device is getting a president immediately after a gap of in excess of a few months. The party’s topmost put up was lying vacant in the southern condition soon after his predecessor Sreedharan Pillai was appointed Mizoram Governor in October 2019.

Surendran, who arrived in the condition funds in the early morning, was presented a rousing welcome by the occasion workers, before being taken to the headquarters in a street display. Addressing the personnel right after assuming charge, the 50-yr-aged chief said the BJP has the toughness to make a political leap in the southern condition and it would be the voice of men and women in the occasion of the Congress-led UDF Opposition being inactive.

Surendran’s appointment comes at a time when Kerala is gearing up for the regional overall body election this yr and the Assembly polls in 2021. The confront of BJP’s fierce agitation in opposition to entry of young women in Sabarimala, Surendran experienced been a entrance-runner for the presidentship considering that the commencing. A near confidant of V Muraleedharan, the younger leader has a difficult activity ahead of him to gain seats and increase the party vote share in the impending polls.

Hailing from Ulleyeri in Kozhikode, Kunnummel Surendran had contested unsuccessfully from Pathnamthitta in the Lok Sabha polls held last calendar year. Six months later on, he was fielded from Konni in the Assembly bypoll, which also he lost. He was defeated in the 2016 Assembly polls by a meagre 89 votes from the Manjeswaram constituency.

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