Who is K Surendran, pitted by BJP against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in Wayanad?
K Surendran with Prime Minister Narendra Modi | X/@surendranbjp
Lok Sabha Elections 2024: The Lok Sabha constituency of Wayanad from southern India state Kerala is set for a clash between Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party's K. Surendran.
Surendran is the state president of the Bharatiya Janata Party in Kerala, a state where Prime Minister Narendra Modi's party has never been in power and continues to struggle to make its mark.
Also watch |PM Modi's South outreach, conducts road shows in Kerala and Tamil Nadu
Confident about sweeping the Hindi heartland, PM Modi's party has specifically focused on southern India, with so much of the political capital invested in the region.
Who is K. Surendran?
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A Chemistry graduate from Zamorin's Guruvayurappan College in Kozhikode, Surendran began his political career through Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), the BJP's students wing. Fluent in three Indian languages from the south of Vindhyas — Tulu, Malayalam and Kannada — Surendran has been trusted with crucial political designations in the BJP throughout his career lasting several decades.
Kunnummel Surendran, hailing from Ulleyeri in Kozhikode district, became the state president of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha in 2009.
Surendran came closest to winning an election in 2016 when he lost a state assembly poll from Manjeshwar segment by a mere 89 votes against Indian Union Muslim League's PB Abdul Razak.
He was the BJP candidate for Lok Sabha polls from Kasargod twice, in 2009 and 2014, and from Pathanamthitta seat once in 2019.
K Surendran is also known as a close confidant of Union Minister V Muraleedharan.
Surendran is married to Sheeba K. and the couple has two children.
The BJP is striving to break decades-old bipolar politics dominated by the Congress-led UDF and the CPI(M)-led LDF in Kerala. The party had earlier announced the candidates for 12 seats. Its NDA partner BDJS will contest four seats in the state.
(With inputs from agencies)