Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala representation in the Modi ministry is likely to be confined to V. Muraleedharan as the BJP central leadership has decided not to accommodate any poll losers in the team. Hence, K. J. Alphons Kannamthanam and Suresh Gopi are unlikely to get a central berth in the second stage.
There were speculations earlier that BJP state president Kummanam Rajasekharan, who was invited to attend the swearing-in of the Modi team, might find a place in the ministry. But he said he was in Delhi to witness the 'historic moment.'
Alphons and Suresh Gopi are Rajya Sabha members and their tenure will end by July 2022 and April 2022 respectively. Kummanam Rajasekharan is not a Rajya Sabha member.
A top state BJP leader told DC that the BJP leaders from Kerala were unlikely to get a chance during the ministry expansion after six months.
"Why should the central leadership accommodate more leaders from the state in the ministry? There are enough eligible leaders who have been elected to the Lok Sabha," he said.
Alphons was included as union minister in the previous ministry in the central BJP quota and due to his stint in the national capital.
Now Muraleeharan holds the charge as minister of state for parliamentary affairs and foreign affairs.
