BJP central leadership backs Kerala chief Surendran amid Palakkad bypoll loss

Thiruvananthapuram: The BJP's national leadership on Monday (November 25) strongly backed the party's Kerala state unit and its chief K Surendran despite a major vote loss in the Palakkad Assembly bypoll, asserting it had put up a "good fight" in the recently held by-elections in the state.

Rejecting reports that Surendran had expressed willingness to quit taking moral responsibility for the defeat in Palakkad, considered one of its strongholds in Kerala, the BJP accused the CPI(M)-led LDF and the Congress-led UDF of "spreading rumours."

"Nobody is resigning neither (the) party has sought anybody's resignation. I think this will settle the matter," senior BJP leader and party's Kerala in-charge, Prakash Javadekar, said in a post on 'X'.

Youth Congress state president Rahul Mamkootathil won the Palakkad seat with a margin of over 18,000 votes, even making inroads into BJP stronghold areas, delivering a shock to the saffron party, which had been hoping to emerge victorious the seat after finishing second in the past few elections.

Adding to the BJP's woes, the Left improved its performance in the seat, narrowing the gap with the party.

"BJP has given a good fight in recently concluded by-elections in Kerala and got a massive mandate in Maharashtra. We will win Palakkad and many more assembly seats in 2026. We are here to make a difference in Kerala politics. People are looking up to BJP," Javadekar said.

The senior leader claimed more than 15 lakh people have voluntarily become members of the BJP, by giving missed call and full information.

"Our membership drive will continue vigorously," Javadekar said.

His statement came amidst reports that the defeat had triggered widespread dissent within the Kerala BJP against Surendran.

Surendran's critics within the party allege he unilaterally decided to field C Krishnakumar, his preferred candidate, for the Palakkad seat.

Before the candidate's announcement, some senior leaders had publicly advocated for the candidature of firebrand party leader Sobha Surendran.

In protest against Krishnakumar's candidature, BJP's popular television face Sandeep G Varier resigned and joined the Congress just ahead of the by-poll, delivering a significant blow to the saffron camp.

In the by-poll, BJP's Krishnakumar secured 39,549 votes (28.63 per cent), while Congress candidate Mamkootathil won with 58,389 votes (42.27 per cent). CPI(M)-backed P Sarin garnered 37,293 votes (27 per cent).

Surendran sought to downplay the setback, stating it is common for the BJP to see reduced votes in Kerala by-elections.

He claimed that many votes for the BJP candidate "Metro Man" E Sreedharan during the 2021 Assembly polls were apolitical, with cross-party support.

However, he admitted, "In Palakkad, there was a decrease in the number of votes. We will introspect on it." Besides Palakkad, by-poll was held to the Chelakkara Assembly segment, which was retained by the ruling CPI (M)-led LDF, while Congress' Priyanka Gandhi Vadra won the Wayanad Lok Sabha by-election. BJP came third in both seats. PTI TGB SA