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Tag: K Surendran

  • Only beauty adjustments in Kerala BJP, official faction will get upperhand

    Express News Service

    THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Belying expectations of a radical organisational revamp following its debacle within the latest meeting elections, the BJP in Kerala selected to make just a few beauty adjustments to its record of office-bearers. Along with state president Ok Surendran, who carried out the “revamp”, all six state normal secretaries will proceed in workplace.

    Five new district presidents have been appointed — in Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, Palakkad, Wayanad and Kasaragod. A poor present within the meeting polls and organisational weaknesses had been cited as the explanations for the reshuffle. However, the current district management in Thiruvananthapuram — the place the social gathering suffered main electoral reverses — will proceed, due to its proximity to the official faction.

    B Gopalakrishnan, C Sivankutty and P Reghunath are the brand new inclusions within the record of 10 vice-presidents. Senior leaders Sobha Surendran and A N Radhakrishnan, who share an uneasy relationship with the official faction, will proceed as vice-presidents.Surendran stated the revamp will proceed.

    “Party committees will be trimmed. BJP has a strong mechanism to scrutinise its leaders and their performance. Party discipline is paramount and those violating it will be dealt with strongly,” Surendran informed mediapersons at Nadapuram. 

    Actor Krishnakumar makes it to BJP nat’l council

    Actor Krishnakumar who unsuccessfully contested from Thiruvananthapuram meeting section, has been nominated to the nationwide council. Senior chief J R Padmakumar, who is just not recognized with any faction, has been faraway from the publish of state treasurer and included as one of many 10 state secretaries.

    While former Palakkad district secretary E Krishnadas is the brand new state treasurer, Ok V S Haridas, T P Sindhumol and Sandeep Vachaspathi are the brand new inclusions within the record of social gathering spokespersons. Former state Congress secretary Pandalam Prathapan, who just lately defected to the BJP, has been appointed as state secretary.

    “The revamp can more or less be called a recruitment drive exclusively for leaders close to the V Muraleedharan- Surendran camp. In districts such as Palakkad and Kasaragod, only the names of district presidents have changed but their loyalties have not,” opined a former state chief. According to social gathering insiders, the official faction and detractors had reached an off-the-cuff settlement earlier than the revamp.

    This is cited as a purpose why just a few district presidents owing allegiance to the P Ok Krishnadas faction have been left untouched. The district presidents in Pathanamthitta, Kottayam and Wayanad who usually are not recognized with both factions confronted the axe and had been changed with leaders near the official faction.

    Contrary to hypothesis, state normal secretary (organisation) M Ganesh, who’s the hyperlink between the BJP and Sangh fountainhead RSS, has not been changed. The social gathering discovering itself on a sticky wicket within the Kodakara black cash episode is cited as the explanation why no alternative has been made to the important thing publish.

  • Cadre resentment prompts Kerala BJP to undertake grassroots degree revamp

    Express News Service
    THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The resentment among the many BJP’s grassroots degree employees following the current ballot debacle and their lukewarm response to the current name for a sequence of agitations appears to have prompted the state management to undertake instant corrective measures.

    The BJP’s state workplace bearer’s assembly held in Kasaragod on Tuesday has pointed in direction of the necessity for a much-needed overhaul of the occasion’s rank and file. Briefing reporters after the assembly, BJP state president Okay Surendran mentioned groups of state workplace bearers led by 5 senior leaders would fan throughout all meeting constituencies for direct interplay with the cadres. General secretaries MT Ramesh, George Kurien, C Krishnakumar, P Sudheer, and vice chairman AN Radhakrishnan would lead the groups.

    “The aim of the exercise is to prepare a detailed master plan for increasing the mass base of the party. A thorough revamp of the party machinery from the grassroots level will be carried out,” Surendran mentioned.

    According to sources, the instant writing on the wall was the tepid response of BJP, Mahila Morcha and Yuva Morcha cadres to the occasion’s name for a sequence of agitations on July 2, 3 and 4. Though an enormous agitation was deliberate, the state management was in for a shock as not even two protests may very well be held in every meeting constituency. The failure of the agitation was indicative of the resentment among the many cadres. Pre-empting the potential of dissident leaders spelling bother for the state management by mobilising the disgruntled occasion employees, Surendran waved the sword of ‘self-discipline’ at them. He reminded the state management assembly that BJP was no Congress and that strict motion might be taken towards dissidents.

    Mounting criticism 

    However, that didn’t deter leaders from the rival factions to unleash a barrage of criticism towards the state management. While a piece of the leaders identified the management’s failure in making certain the help of Ezhava, SC/ST and Christian communities within the election, one other part demanded an in depth monetary audit of the election funds within the wake of the black cash allegations.

    Surendran’s tall declare of successful 35 seats within the meeting election and thereby capturing energy galvanised opponents towards the BJP, rival factions identified. Offering candidature solely to these loyal to the official faction and efforts to frustrate and flush out dissident leaders have been additionally raised within the assembly. 

    A piece of the leaders even demanded the state management to step apart if it continues to advertise factionalism. According to occasion sources, Surendran has reportedly assured a piece of disgruntled leaders that state workplace bearers would hearken to their grievances. The state management can also be reportedly planning to present befitting obligations to leaders who’ve been refrained from occasion posts as a part of mollifying them.

  • Kerala freeway theft: Cops summon state BJP chief for questioning

    Kerala Police on Friday issued a discover to BJP state president Ok Surendran to look for questioning on Tuesday in reference to its probe into the freeway theft of Rs 3.50 crore forward of the Assembly elections.
    Several BJP leaders in Thrissur district, BJP state basic secretary (group) M Ganeshan, Ok Surendran’s workplace secretary Dipin and his driver Libeesh have earlier been questioned.
    The case was registered primarily based on a criticism of the driving force of the looted automotive. He mentioned the looted Rs 25 lakh money belonged to Kozhikode-based RSS employee A Ok Dharmarajan and the quantity was being ferried to Kochi for enterprise functions. Police arrested 21 folks and recovered Rs 1.25 crore, giving credence to the idea that the looted quantity was Rs 3.50 crore.

    Dharmarajan had moved a courtroom in Thrissur in search of a route to police that the recovered cash ought to be handed over to him. In a counter-affidavit to this petition, police indicated that the cash was a part of BJP’s election fund, meant to be exhausted in central Kerala. Police mentioned state stage leaders of BJP had been aware of the motion of the cash. The courtroom posted the petition for listening to on July 13.

  • ‘Bribing ballot rival’: Kasaragod police take over case towards BJP state prez Okay Surendran

    By Express News Service
    KASARAGOD: The Kasaragod district crime department has taken over the investigation into the FIR towards BJP state president Okay Surendran for allegedly bribing a rival candidate Okay Sundara to drag out of the meeting election in Manjeshwar.

    The case can be investigated by District Crime Branch deputy superintendent of police Satheesh Kumar A.

    The FIR was registered underneath part 117 B of the IPC (election bribery) on the route of Kasaragod Judicial First Class Magistrate Court – II on a petition filed by CPM district committee member and LDF candidate in Manjeshwar V V Rameshan.

    Badiadka station home officer Inspector Salim stated the case file can be transferred to the district crime department quickly.

    The case hinges on an announcement given by Sundara to police that BJP leaders Suresh Naik and Ashok Shetty and Surendran’s confidant Sunil Naik gave him Rs 2.5 lakh and a Chinese smartphone price Rs 15,000 to withdraw from the election.

    He had additionally alleged that he was kidnapped in Suresh Naik’s automotive and illegally detained to pressurise him to drag out of the election.

    Kasaragod DySP P P Sadanandan instructed The New Indian Express on Monday that Suresh Naik, Ashok Shetty, and Sunil Naik would even be booked within the case and charged with unlawful gratification, abduction, unlawful detention, and legal intimidation.

    The BJP might need perceived Sundara to be a menace as a result of he garnered 467 votes within the 2016 Assembly election when he contested as an impartial candidate in Manjeshwar. In the identical election, the BJP’s Surendran misplaced by 89 votes.

    This 12 months, the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) fielded Sundara however he withdrew his nomination papers on March 22.

    Surendran went on to lose the election by 745 votes. Another namesake, Surendran M, obtained 197 votes.

    Police threatening Sundara: BJP

    Meanwhile, BJP district president Okay Shreekanth instructed reporters on Tuesday that Sundara made the allegations towards the BJP leaders underneath menace from the Kerala police.

    “Sundara withdrew the nomination papers on his free will. The police threatened him to make the statement against the BJP. The police are working as a spatula of the state government,” Shreekanth stated.

    On Monday, he alleged the grievance was a conspiracy of the CPM and the Indian Union Muslim League.

    Sundara moved to Congress pocket

    Meanwhile, Sundara and his mom moved out of his home at Vaninagar in Enmakaje to his uncle’s home at Shenni in the identical panchayat. He stated he and his mom shifted home fearing threats from the BJP.

    Vaninagar is a pocket of the BJP and Shenni is a stronghold of the Congress. Sundara is a sympathiser of the UDF.

  • BJP gave me Rs 2 lakh, a smartphone to withdraw nomination in Manjeshwar: Okay Surendran’s namesake

    Express News Service
    KASARGOD: The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) candidate in Manjeshwar Okay Sundara — a namesake of BJP state president Okay Surendran, mentioned he withdrew his nomination papers forward of the Assembly election as a result of he was purchased out by the BJP.

    Sundara, a poor however fashionable Yakshagana artiste, mentioned the BJP gave him Rs 2 lakh and a smartphone value Rs 15,000 to withdraw his nomination. “They gave me the money and the phone soon after I withdrew my papers,” he mentioned.

    The BJP has denied the allegation. “He should be admitted to a mental hospital,” mentioned Satheesh Bhandary, BJP’s North Zone (Kerala) vice-president.

    Sundara’s ‘confession’ comes scorching on the heels of an allegation that the BJP paid Rs 10 lakh to tribal chief C Okay Janu of the Janathipathya Rashtriya Party to deliver her again to the NDA fold forward of the Assembly election.

    The BJP thought-about Sundara a risk as a result of he had garnered 467 votes within the 2016 Assembly election when Surendran misplaced by 89 votes to IUML’s P B Abdul Razak in the identical constituency.

    This yr, the BSP fielded Sundara as a result of he had received extra votes than the get together within the 2016 election. But two days earlier than the deadline to withdraw the nomination on March 22, Sundara had gone incommunicado. The BSP’s district normal secretary Vijayakumar B filed a lacking criticism with Badiadka police on March 21 however the criticism was not registered as a result of Sundara attended the telephone name of the police.

    The similar day, an announcement was posted within the BJP’s WhatsApp group for media saying Sundara was withdrawing his nomination papers as a result of he didn’t need to hamper the possibilities of BJP state president Okay Surendran who “valiantly led the Sabarimala protest”.

    Even then, when The New Indian Express reached out to Sundara, he had denied the explanation.

    The New Indian Express then contacted Sundara on June 5, he mentioned Sabarimala was not a cause for withdrawing his nominations. “I had asked for Rs 15 lakh and a licence to run a wine shop in Karnataka. The party agreed to it if Surendran won. But he lost,” mentioned Sundara.

    But the get together gave Rs 2 lakh in money and a Redmi telephone quickly after the nomination papers have been withdrawn, he mentioned.

    The BJP had earlier denied the allegation that it had paid Janu Rs 10 lakh. Surendran had advised reporters in Kozhikode that the allegations have been an insult to Janu, a tall tribal chief of Kerala.

    Several BJP leaders have been additionally being questioned over a hawala heist, during which in accordance with studies, Rs 3.5 crore of black cash was robbed at Kodakara bridge in Thrissur on April 3. The cash was allegedly meant for the BJP’s electioneering in Kerala. 

    “None of these allegations can be proved in court,” mentioned a senior BJP chief within the get together. “But the party has become a subject of ridicule in the state,” he mentioned.

  • Kerala BJP president denies providing Rs 10 lakh to CK Janu for contesting meeting polls

    By ANI
    THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Ok Surendran has denied the allegation that he gave Rs 10 lakh to Janathipathya Rashtriya Party (JRP) chief CK Janu for contesting within the not too long ago held meeting polls on behalf of National Democratic Alliance (NDA).

    The denial comes after a voice clip surfaced of an alleged telephonic dialog between Ok Surendran and Praseetha Azheekode, treasurer of JRP by which they’re heard discussing about giving Rs 10 lakh money to CK Janu, who contested from Sulthan Bathery constituency of Wayanad for NDA.

    When Praseetha alleged that Surendran gave cash, the latter denied all allegations and termed them as baseless and termed it as part of a smear marketing campaign in opposition to the social gathering after the polls.

    “I have not given any money to CK Janu, NDA candidate from Sulthan Bathery. She did not demand any money and no negotiations have taken place. She was our candidate and as per the party established norms election expense was met. CK Janu is being haunted because she is a tribal leader,” stated Surendran.

    Regarding the audio clip, he stated, “During elections, many people call and it is not easy to remember all conversations. I have spoken to Praseetha. But the audio clip does not have any veracity and in today’s world anyone can come up with such audio clips. As far as the allegation is concerned I want to make clear that I have not given any money to Janu.”

    Further, Surendran alleged that there’s a purposeful malicious marketing campaign unleashed by a bit of media and Communist Party of India (Marxist) to focus on BJP leaders. He reiterated that BJP leaders do not need any hyperlink within the seizure of black cash in Kodakara within the Thrissur district.

    “There is a conscious attempt taking place to malign the party and its leaders. In connection with the black money probe in Kodakara, BJP leaders are being called for questioning unnecessarily. Senior district leaders who have nothing to do with the case are purposefully called for questioning,” he alleged.

    His comment comes because the probe is progressing right into a freeway theft criticism in Kodakara, Thrissur district which in accordance with police befell when makes an attempt had been made to smuggle Rs 3.5 crore unlawful cash throughout election time. 

  • Kerala elections 2021: BJP district items hit out at state prime brass for dismal present

    Express News Service
    THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Despite having round 30 lakh major members within the state, why might the BJP ballot solely 23.5 lakh votes within the current meeting election? Where did the 6.5 lakh get together votes go?

    Why might BJP’s most important ally BDJS, which polled 8 lakh votes in 2016, retain solely half of those votes in 2021? These had been the powerful questions that the saffron get together’s state management confronted because it took inventory of the meeting election outcomes.

    The district-level conferences to analyse election outcomes, which got here to a detailed on Friday, additionally witnessed fierce opposition to the alleged ‘one-upmanship’ of the V Muraleedharan-Okay Surendran axis within the get together. Some district items even demanded an intensive management change to salvage the get together from the current plight, a lot to the displeasure of the official faction.

    “Crucial grassroots-level work such as house visits have happened only in around 1,500 of the 20,000 booths where the party has influence. Many of the workers were reluctant to even distribute one-fourth of the notices and campaign leaflets due to their differences with the state leadership,” mentioned a senior BJP chief who was aware of the varied district-level management conferences. 

    The management conferences concluded that booth-level organisational work was completely ineffective this time round. There was additionally stiff opposition to the norm of fixing an higher age restrict of 45 years for mandalam presidents. This led to skilled aged leaders, who might join effectively with the individuals, being completely sidelined from election work. 

    ‘Neutral voters alienated’

    A chopper-hopping state president contesting in two seats, a destructive marketing campaign technique, claims of forming the subsequent authorities with even 35 seats and thereby signalling attainable horse-trading after the election, had been a number of the components that alienated impartial voters from the get together this time, in accordance with the district committees. 

    The get together couldn’t money in on the candidature of eminent personalities like E Sreedharan or the visits of Prime Minister Narendra Mod and different prime nationwide leaders to key constituencies. At the organisational stage, the factional struggle taking part in out within the open and choice of candidates who’re loyal solely to the official faction led to the alienation of numerous get together staff, it was identified. 

    The district-level management conferences had been additionally of the view that although the get together couldn’t make important positive factors within the native physique polls, such a surprising defeat that questioned the very relevance of the get together was least anticipated and sought pressing corrective measures together with a revamp of the get together’s state prime brass.

  • Kerala Elections: What’s at stake for these politicos?

    By Express News Service
    PINARAYI VIJAYAN, CHIEF MINISTER:Could script historical past if the Left entrance continues in energy. Pinarayi will proceed together with his present model of administration. A win with a thumping majority would go a good distance in establishing past doubt the CPM strongman from Kannur because the Left face of Kerala politics. He may even be hailed because the tallest Communist chief within the state’s political historical past, which can even be known as pre or put up Pinarayi. A defeat may show equally damaging for Pinarayi. Not solely will his authority inside get together circles be undermined, however he might find yourself bearing the entire burden of the start of the tip of CPM in Kerala.

    RAMESH CHENNITHALA, OPPOSITION LEADER:

    A win for UDF, nonetheless slender, would guarantee Chennithala continues to helm get together in Kerala. Despite varied group equations inside Congress, he’s sure to clinch a time period as Chief Minister. He may very effectively lay a reputable declare over UDF victory, thereby propelling himself even into the get together’s nationwide state of affairs. On the opposite hand, he may find yourself as probably the most tragicf aces of Kerala politics, if UDF bites the mud. As probably the most environment friendly Opposition leaders within the state’s historical past, he harbours excessive hopes of a victory. A loss will erode his place inside the get together and the UDF.

    Okay SURENDRAN, BJP STATE PRESIDENT:

    The BJP needs to extend its vote share and win a minimum of 20% of votes this time. Winning even a few seats and ending up as runners-up in additional than 10 seats can be sufficient to make sure Okay Surendran’s development within the get together. That would additionally show to be an apt reply to his critics inside the get together, like Sobha Surendran. A win at Manjeswar would positively be the icing on the cake. But a dismal ballot end result would show expensive for Surendran. In that case, even a win at Manjeswar won’t assist retain his place within the get together, as he must shoulder your entire burden of the poor efficiency.

  • NDA camp guarded about electoral end result on counting eve

    Express News Service
    THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: On the eve of the declaration of meeting election outcomes, the BJP-led NDA camp remained guarded about predicting its electoral fortunes. BJP state president Okay Surendran had shocked many by claiming in the course of the run-up to the election that the BJP would win 35-40 seats. But as counting day neared, no such tall claims have been heard in get together circles.  

    A senior BJP chief to whom TNIE spoke to refused to foretell a precise variety of seats for the NDA however mentioned the alliance’s tally this time round could be a ‘double digit’ determine. Many different BJP leaders too toed an identical line, in all probability as a consequence of a diktat from the state management to not put out any numbers. 

    “Though we cannot predict the exact number of seats, our vote share would definitely increase and come close to the 20% mark,” mentioned a member of the get together’s core group. Besides profitable one seat, BJP had completed second in seven constituencies final time and the get together has pinned its hopes on clinching these seats this time. The BJP additionally hopes to complete second in a minimum of a dozen seats as effectively. 

    However, not one of the exit polls has predicted greater than six seats for the NDA, with a ballot of polls (an mixture of varied exit polls) predicting two seats for the saffron alliance. While a bit throughout the get together foresees the lotus blooming even in surprising waters, a sceptical group is cautious of shock reversals in its perceived strongholds.

  • Kerala elections: UDF, LDF cannot type govt on their very own this time, says BJP’s Ok Surendran

    By Express News Service
    KASARAGOD: The folks haven’t given a clean cheque to anybody within the meeting elections, BJP state president Ok Surendran mentioned in Manjeshwar on Wednesday, a day after the voting.

    During electioneering, the Chief Minister mentioned the LDF would shut the BJP’s account opened in Nemom in 2016, Surendran famous. “But the results will show that no political front will be able to govern the state on its own,” he added.

    The outcomes would show that Kerala has a robust third different, he mentioned. “Three-cornered contests were seen across the state and the NDA will make considerable gains in terms of seats and vote share,” he mentioned.

    ALSO READ: On election day, BJP and Congress leaders elevate Sabarimala in bid to pin down Kerala CM

    The LDF and the UDF confronted the election with the assist of communal forces, he alleged. “They will have to answer to the public today or tomorrow,” he mentioned.

    In Manjeshwar, the SDPI publicly introduced its assist to the UDF, Surendran mentioned. But in a number of different constituencies, the organisation supported the LDF, he alleged. “Both the fronts were running around for Muslim votes,” he mentioned.

    He mentioned the BJP would win in Kasaragod and Manjeshwar constituencies. He alleged that the Chief Minister was behind the conspiracy to unleash violence in Kazhakootam in Thiruvananthapuram district. The CPM unleashed widespread violence throughout the state after the election, he alleged.

    Congress state president Mullappally Ramachandran shed crocodile tears for slain Youth Congress employees Kripesh and Sarath Lal, he mentioned. “He sought votes from the CPM which indulged in political killings. Can Mullappally stoop so low?” Surendran added.