E Sreedharan, the ‘Metro Man’, will be the BJP’s chief minister candidate for the upcoming Kerala Assembly elections, the party announced on Thursday.
Sreedharan, 88, joined the BJP last week. BJP state president K Surendran announced the decision. “The party will soon release a list of other candidates as well,” he said.
After his announcement, Union Minister V Muraleedharan also tweeted, “Kerala BJP will fight Kerala polls with E Sreedharanji as its chief ministerial candidate. We will defeat both CPM and Congress to provide a corruption-free, development-oriented governance for the people of Kerala.”
However, he later made a U-turn, saying Sreedharan’s name not confirmed for Kerala CM. “What I wanted to tell was that through media reports I learnt that the party has made this announcement. Later, I cross-checked with the party chief who said that he has not made any such announcement,” he told news agency ANI.
What I wanted to tell was that through media reports I learnt that the party has made this announcement. Later, I cross-checked with the party chief who said that he has not made any such announcement: V Muraleedharan on his statement on #ESreedharan @VMBJP
– ANI reports pic.twitter.com/oBCAUwDeOb
— NewsMobile (@NewsMobileIndia) March 4, 2021
Earlier, he also tweeted, “BJP, under the able leadership of PM Shri Narendra Modiji will strive to take care of the needs of the people of Kerala. The new Kerala under E Sreedharanji will pave the way for an efficient & effective Govt in the state,” he added.
@BJP4India under the able leadership of PM Shri @NarendraModi Ji will strive to take care of the needs of the People of Kerala.
The New Kerala under E Sreedharan Ji will pave the way for an efficient & effective Govt in the state.
#ESreedharan— V Muraleedharan (@VMBJP) March 4, 2021
Earlier on Thursday, Sreedharan said he had not decided on a constituency. “I am ready to contest in any seat, and victory is sure for me. I strongly believe that BJP will come to power. However, I want to contest from a constituency which is not far away from Ponnani in Malappuram, where I am residing now,” he said.
The BJP has just one MLA in the 140-strong Kerala Assembly. Kerala will vote in a single phase on April 6 with results due May 2.