BJP picks Union minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar as state president for new Kerala push | India News

T’PURAM: BJP brass has hand-picked businessman and former Union minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar (60) as the occasion’s Kerala unit chief. His choice is believed to have been made by PM Narendra Modi and Union house minister Amit Shah, with a strategic plan to steer BJP in a new path within the state. His appointment will probably be formally introduced at BJP state council assembly in Thiruvananthapuram on Monday.
Leading as much as his nomination, Chandrasekhar was reportedly not eager on main the state unit, citing his lack of political expertise. However, sources recommend that his actual hesitation stemmed from his preoccupation together with his intensive enterprise empire.
On Sunday morning, he obtained directions to file his nomination for BJP state unit president, simply hours earlier than he was scheduled to journey overseas for a world AI convention in Australia. He submitted his nomination following a core committee assembly in Thiruvananthapuram within the night. The occasion was attended by incumbent BJP state chief Ok Surendran, Union ministers Suresh Gopi and George Kurian, former Union minister V Muraleedharan, nationwide government committee member PK Krishnadas, and Kummanam Rajasekharan.
Chandrasekhar’s appointment is seen as a part of BJP’s technique to reposition the occasion as an aspirational political drive able to difficult CPM’s narrative on growth politics. His management may additionally assist rein in factional feuds inside the state unit. The new function of outgoing president Surendran is anticipated to be introduced within the coming days.
In the final Lok Sabha elections, Chandrasekhar gave a tricky struggle to Shashi Tharoor within the Thiruvananthapuram constituency, profitable over a big part of younger voters. He was projected as a “no-nonsense, development-focused” candidate and a direct consultant of Modi.
Entering politics in 2006, Chandrasekhar has served three phrases in Rajya Sabha, representing Karnataka.
Born in Ahmedabad to Air Commodore MK Chandrasekhar and Valli, he has ancestral roots in Palakkad.
Chandrasekhar’s appointment additionally indicators that BJP needs devoted full-time politicians, fairly than part-time political figures. An analogous strategy was seen within the case of actor-turned-politician Suresh Gopi, who was made a Union minister regardless of his choice to proceed appearing whereas serving as Thrissur MP.