The contest in Manjeshwar for the 2026 Kerala Assembly elections is a significant three-way battle. K Surendran, a senior BJP leader and former state president, is contesting from this northern constituency in Kasaragod district.
Surendran has made Manjeshwar a focal point of the BJP’s efforts to expand its presence in Kerala, a seat famous for its thin victory margins.
Surendran has a long history with the BJP, beginning his political journey through student and youth movements linked to the party.
He has contested multiple elections in Kerala, including the 2016 Assembly election from Konni constituency and the 2021 Assembly election from Manjeshwar.
Surendran served as the state president of the Kerala BJP from 2020 to 2023, strengthening the party’s organisational structure and campaign outreach.
He is known for his role in shaping the BJP’s political messaging in Kerala, focusing on governance criticism of the Communist Party of India (Marxist)-led government.
