THIRUVANANTHAPURAM : BJP leader AN Radhakrishan voiced his discomfort at accepting functions under State boss saying, he would not take up posts under K Surendran. He reiterated his stand on the matter during talks with BJP’s national secretary.
K Surendran’s appointment as State president came after months-long debate between rival factions. However, the spectre of hostility has not gone away and Radhakrishnan’s vow to stay away from posts is the latest.
Incidentally, Kummanam Rajashekanan and Sobha Surendran had kept away from inaugural of K Sunrendran’s presidentship. General Secretaries MT Ramesh and AN Radhakrishnan initially boycotted the ceremony despite being present in the capital at that time. They later relented after being reportedly threatened. According to reports, the two leaders were coaxed after absence of saffron heavyweights like Kummanam Rajashekaran at the ceremony had already kicked up controversy.
AN Radhakrishnan and MT Ramesh reached the State Committee office only when K Surendran’s appointing ceremony was nearly over. Those who opted to keep out – Shoba Surendran, AN Radhakrishnan and MT Ramesh – were all leaders considered for the top post along with K Surendran. All three belong to Krishnadas faction while former State President Kummanam Rajashekaran belongs to the anti-V Muraleedharan faction. .
O Rajagopal, former party secretary PP Mukundan and national secretary H Raj took part in the ceremony. Former State President CK Padmanabhan made noise about Kummanan’s absence during the ceremony following which, H Raj summoned AN Radhakrishnan and MT Ramesh to the venue. According to sources, Krishnadas faction are determined not to acknowledge position accorded by the party to K Surendran.
