BJP names 39 more for Kerala polls; Kummanam Rajasekharan to contest from Aranmula

The BJP on Thursday released its second list of 39 candidates for the April 9 Kerala assembly elections, fielding former governor Kummanam Rajasekharan from Aranmula in Pathanamthitta district.

Kasaragod district BJP president Ashwini ML, who contested the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, has been nominated from Kasaragod. The party rejigged several seats to accommodate its new NDA ally, the Twenty20.

In a notable crossover, the BJP has fielded three leaders who recently quit the CPI and the Congress. CC Mukundan, expelled by the CPI for anti-party activities, will contest from Nattika. A sitting MLA, he turned to the BJP after failing to secure a Congress ticket.


Former Pradesh Congress general secretary Valsala Prasannakumar has been fielded from Paravur, where she will take on Leader of Opposition VD Satheesan. Another former Congress functionary, MJ Job, will contest from Alappuzha on a BJP ticket.

“We are receiving an overwhelmingly positive response across the state, signalling a strong desire for change. This is a defining election for Kerala,” state BJP president Rajeev Chandrasekhar said. He is contesting from Nemom, the only assembly seat the party has won in the state so far.

Polling for all 140 assembly constituencies will be held on April 9, with counting scheduled for May 4. The last date for filing nominations is May 23.