As RSS Takes A Tough Stand, BJP Drags Its Feet In Finding A New Chief In Kerala

With the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) playing hard ball embittered by the shifting of Kummanam Rajasekharan as Mizoram Governor, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is finding it difficult to find a new chief for its Kerala unit. Rajasekharan was the Kerala unit chief before he was made Mizoram governor, surprising everyone. The RSS is upset with the move since Rajasekharan was deputed by the organisation to help the BJP in Kerala and it was not consulted on the issue.

Under Rajasekharan, the BJP’s vote share increased in May 2016 Assembly elections, though it could win only a single seat. The RSS has sought justification of Rajasekharan’s shifting and written a letter to the BJP, reported Malayalam daily Mathrubhumi. The BJP is looking to appoint K Surendran as the party chief in Kerala but the RSS has put its foot down on the proposal. A faction of the BJP has proposed the name of state general secretary A N Radhakrishnan. Besides these two, the party has short-listed the name of another popular leader P Sreedharan Pillai. However, the RSS is yet to notify BJP of its choice for the leadership.

The problem for the BJP is that its state committee cannot meet without a president, per its constitution. Senior national leaders H Raja and Nalin Kumar Kateel are trying to find a solution, with BJP’s national secretary B L Santhosh too chipping in by discussing the issue with the RSS.