BJP Faces Infighting in Thiruvananthapuram as Nemom Area President Resigns Over Candidate Selection

Thiruvananthapuram: An internal conflict has erupted in Nemom, a BJP stronghold, even before the release of the candidate list for the Corporation elections. M. Jayakumar, the BJP Nemom Area President, resigned following a dispute over candidate selection. The resignation is specifically in protest against the move to nominate M. R. Gopan as the party’s candidate. The demand is to field the current councilor, Deepika, again. In a letter sent to the District President, Jayakumar states that he cannot accept Gopan coming forward as a self-proclaimed candidate.

Jayakumar’s resignation letter, addressed to District President Karamana Jayan and Nemom Mandalam President Karumam Rajesh, states that despite 43 years of organizational work, he has not received justice from the party and that the leadership did not consider the party workers’ demand to field a candidate from the Nemom ward itself.

The dispute within the party began with the indication that M. R. Gopan, who won from the Ponnumangalam ward last time, would be the candidate in Nemom. Jayakumar also raises serious allegations in the letter, claiming that M. R. Gopan attempted to defeat the current BJP councilor.

BJP won in all five wards of the Nemom region, which are considered BJP strongholds, last time. M. R. Gopan had to change wards as Ponnumangalam became a women’s reserved ward. The resignation of the Nemom Area President came after M. R. Gopan received the support of the BJP district leadership and the RSS in the candidate selection for the Nemom ward.

Meanwhile, the BJP is expected to announce the list of about half of the Corporation’s candidates on Thursday. Alliance partners like Shiv Sena, BDJS, and Kerala Kamaraj Congress (KKC) may also be allotted seats in the Corporation. BJP has a strong influence in 70 seats in the Corporation. The BJP is focusing more on these wards. There are also plans to field strong candidates for the Mayor’s post.