Actor Suresh Gopi stuns all with Rajya Sabha ticket
Suresh Gopi was asked to keep it a secret until the government informed the President.
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Suresh Gopi is emerging as the superstar of the state BJP with his surprise nomination to the Rajya Sabha by the national leadership even by keeping the state leaders in the dark. It is thought that soon he may be elevated as a union minister in a bid to project him as the new face of the BJP in Kerala. Last week, Gopi had ensured that former South India organising general secretary of BJP, P. P. Mukundan, was brought back to the party showing that the action hero is being seen as a formidable force in the state BJP.
The only person who was in the know about the nomination was state president Kummanam Rajasekh- aran. The actor had invited Mr Kummanam to his home for dinner on Saturday and the next day he flew to New Delhi to hold talks with Mr Amit Shah, BJP national president. It is learnt that the central BJP leaders apprised him of their decision to recommend his name to the President for the Rajya Sabha. However, Suresh Gopi was asked to keep it a secret until the government informed the President.
Gopi had told reporters in Delhi that they discussed only about the poll campaign. A prominent party leader said, “though we do not wish to rake up a controversy over Suresh Gopi’s new role, it would have been appropriate if we were also kept in the loop. Now it is to be seen whether he would be elevated as a minister,” he told DC.
However, Mr B.L. Santhosh, national BJP joint general secretary (organisation), told DC they were playing it safe and that the top leadership was aware of the decision taken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Mr Amit Shah about Gopi. Gopi has been recommended to the Upper House under the category of prominent citizens.
Suresh Gopi says nomination not a political decision
Suresh Gopi was the cynosure of all eyes at Kalabhavan Theatre here when the state BJP leadership released eight of its propaganda films for the Assembly elections. Gopi said his nomination as Rajya Sabha MP was not a political decision and that he was more concerned about the future of the country and the state.
After his name was announced as Rajya Sabha MP in New Delhi late on Wednesday night, the actor headed to Sreepadmanabha Swami Temple in the morning. After offering prayers, Suresh Gopi told reporters that his first step would be to protect the rivers and the campaign would be launched from Thiruvananthapuram.
“Prime Minister Narendra Modi nominating me to Rajya Sabha was not a political decision. I’ll campaign for the BJP in the polls. Though it is impossible to visit all the 140 constituencies, I will be campaigning in several places,” he said.