Thiruvananthapuram, 29 June (H.S.):The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has begun its preparations for the next Lok Sabha elections in Kerala by identifying prospective candidates well in advance and assigning them responsibility for the constituencies they are likely to contest. The move is aimed at strengthening the party’s grassroots presence and ensuring sustained political engagement in key parliamentary segments.
According to party sources, the BJP plans to appoint prospective Lok Sabha candidates as constituency in-charges, entrusting them with the responsibility of working full-time in their respective constituencies. The exercise is expected to be finalised within the next two weeks, after which the selected leaders will begin extensive organisational work on the ground.
The party is also preparing for the possibility that the proposed 'One Nation, One Election' initiative could be implemented, resulting in simultaneous Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in 2029. Keeping this in view, the BJP is expected to appoint in-charges for Assembly constituencies as well, enabling the organisation to strengthen its network at both parliamentary and legislative levels.
Among the names under consideration, former Kerala BJP president K. Surendran is said to be the frontrunner for the Attingal Lok Sabha constituency, while former Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar is likely to be entrusted with Thiruvananthapuram. Senior BJP leader Sobha Surendran is expected to take charge of Alappuzha, and Anoop Antony is being considered for Pathanamthitta.
The party leadership believes that frequent changes in constituencies have been one of the reasons for the BJP’s inability to improve its electoral performance in Kerala. The state core committee has reportedly concluded that leaders who remain committed to a single constituency over a longer period are more likely to build a stronger connect with voters. The BJP believes its performances in constituencies such as Kazhakkoottam and Chathannoor demonstrate the benefits of such an approach.
As part of its organisational restructuring, the BJP is also expecting greater involvement from newly appointed national president Nitin Naveen in Kerala. The party is simultaneously working on strategies to attract more young people and women into its ranks as it seeks to expand its support base and improve its prospects in the state ahead of the next general election.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman
