With the Kerala Assembly election declaration expected next week, the NDA has accelerated its candidate selection and campaign preparations. The national leadership has insisted that top leaders of all alliance partners must contest the polls. While BDJS president Thushar Vellappally is considering contesting from the Kuttanad constituency, Twenty20 chairman Sabu M. Jacob has declined to contest, opting instead to focus on coordinating the alliance’s overall campaign.
In a strategic shift, the BJP is set to field firebrand leader Sobha Surendran in Palakkad, where she has already begun her informal campaign by seeking blessings from RSS leadership. Consequently, Palakkad district president Prasanth Sivan is expected to be moved to the Alathur constituency. In Ernakulam district, the inclusion of Twenty20 in the NDA has led the BJP to concede several of its traditional seats, including Thrikkakara and Kunnathunad, to the corporate-backed outfit. Meanwhile, state president K. Surendran has already focused his efforts on Manjeshwaram, as the NDA aims to capitalize on its increased vote share in recent local body elections. (TNIE)
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