Thiruvananthapuram: The BJP is yet to finalise its candidate for the Vengara by-election which will be a cakewalk for the Muslim League. Not sure of putting up a stiff fight, Ms Sobha Surendran, BJP state general secretary, has backed out from the fray though her name was proposed earlier. State president Kummanam Rajasekharan has proposed the names of two local leaders-- former Malappuram district president K. Janachandran Master, 65, and former Malappuram district secretary Preman Master. The central leaders may announce the name on Thursday as the last date for filing the nomination for the October 11 polling is Friday.
The UDF and LDF candidates submitted their nominations on Wednesday.
With Mr Kummanam scheduled to kick off his Janaraksha Yatra on October 3, the state leadership will not be able to focus on Vengara. RSS state secretary and Prantha Karyavahak P. Gopalankutty Master told DC that neither the RSS nor the BJP had high hopes about Vengara, which is a bastion of the Muslim League. “There is no confusion on the BJP candidate as Kummanam has already submitted a panel of names to the central leadership,” said Mr Gopalankutty Master.
In the 2016 Assembly elections, BJP’s P. T. Ali Haji had polled 7,055 votes when Mr P. K. Kunhalikutty of the Muslim League romped home with 72,181 votes. Mr Janachandran Master had contested from the Ponnani Lok Sabha constituency in 2009 and has not been active in the district for the last several years.
