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

T'PURAM: BJP brass has hand-picked businessman and former Union minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar (60) as the party's Kerala unit chief. His selection is believed to have been made by PM Narendra Modi and Union home minister Amit Shah, with a strategic plan to steer BJP in a new direction in the state. His appointment will be officially announced at BJP state council meeting in Thiruvananthapuram on Monday.

Leading up to his nomination, Chandrasekhar was reportedly not keen on leading the state unit, citing his lack of political experience. However, sources suggest that his real hesitation stemmed from his preoccupation with his extensive business empire.

On Sunday morning, he received instructions to file his nomination for BJP state unit president, just hours before he was scheduled to travel abroad for an international AI conference in Australia. He submitted his nomination following a core committee meeting in Thiruvananthapuram in the evening. The event was attended by incumbent BJP state chief K Surendran, Union ministers Suresh Gopi and George Kurian, former Union minister V Muraleedharan, national executive committee member PK Krishnadas, and Kummanam Rajasekharan.

Chandrasekhar's appointment is seen as part of BJP's strategy to reposition the party as an aspirational political force capable of challenging CPM's narrative on development politics. His leadership could also help rein in factional feuds within the state unit. The new role of outgoing president Surendran is expected to be announced in the coming days.

In the last Lok Sabha elections, Chandrasekhar gave a tough fight to Shashi Tharoor in the Thiruvananthapuram constituency, winning over a large section of young voters. He was projected as a "no-nonsense, development-focused" candidate and a direct representative of Modi.

Entering politics in 2006, Chandrasekhar has served three terms in Rajya Sabha, representing Karnataka.

Born in Ahmedabad to Air Commodore MK Chandrasekhar and Valli, he has ancestral roots in Palakkad.

Chandrasekhar's appointment also signals that BJP wants dedicated full-time politicians, rather than part-time political figures. A similar approach was seen in the case of actor-turned-politician Suresh Gopi, who was made a Union minister despite his preference to continue acting while serving as Thrissur MP.