K. Surendran
President of Bharatiya Janata Party, Kerala unit
Assumed office
15 February 2020 (2020-02-15)
Preceded byP. S. Sreedharan Pillai
Personal details
Born (1970-03-10) 10 March 1970
Ulliyeri, Kerala, India
Political partyBJP
SpouseSheeba K.
Children2
Residence(s)Kasaragod, Kerala
Alma materUniversity of Calicut
Occupation
  • Politician
  • social worker
Websiteksurendran.in

Kunnummal Surendran (born 10 March 1970) is an Indian politician from Kozhikode in the state of Kerala. He currently serves as the 11th President of the Bharatiya Janata Party in the state.[1][2][3][4][5]

Early life

K. Surendran was born to Kunjiraman and Kalyani Amma on 10 March 1970 in Ulliyeri, Kozhikode district in Kerala, India.[6] He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry[6] from Zamorin's Guruvayurappan College, Kozhikode. He started his political career through Akhila Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad, the student wing of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. During the earlier years of his political career he held various positions such as Director North Malabar District Co-operative Marketing Society, President, Desa Seva Samskarika Kendram, Founder Director Board member National Yuva co operative Society and advisory board member Nehru Yuva Kendra.[6] He had moved to Kasaragod many years ago, and learnt Tulu and Kannada languages to better communicate with the local people.[7][8] Surendran is married to Sheeba K. and the couple has two children.

Political career

As Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha state president K. Surendran led a march in October 2009 protesting unemployment and a ban on government hiring. Several people were injured when police forcibly prevented the marchers from entering the Secretariat of Kerala.[9] In the 2019 parliamentary contest in Kerala, Surendran was selected by the Bharatiya Janata Party as their candidate in the Pathanamthitta constituency.[10] The constituency was won by Anto Antony of Indian National Congress. Surendran came third behind INC and CPI(M).[11][12]

Surendran was appointed the state president of Bharatiya Janata Party on February 15, 2020.[13][1]

Election attempts

  • On 16 April 2009 K. Surendran was a Lok Sabha candidate for Kasaragod in the national elections.
  • In the 2011 state elections for the Manjeshwar constituency P. B. Abdul Razak of the Indian Union Muslim League won 37.46% of the votes and K. Surendran of the BJP came second with 33.8% of the votes.[14] P. B. Abdul Razak was elected with a margin of 5,828 votes.[7]
  • In February 2014 it was reported that senior BJP members in Kerala were opposed to the decision that K.Surendran should again be the BJP's Lok Sabha candidate for the Kasaragod constituency.[15] His candidacy was apparently announced in Kasaragod by the former national president Venkaiah Naidu before being reviewed by the election committee, drawing criticism from Shobha Surendran of the national executive and from state president V. Muraleedharan.[16]
  • In May 2016 Surendran was defeated by a small margin in an election for the Manjeshwar seat.[17] He lost by 89 votes to P. B. Abdul Razak of the Indian Union Muslim League.[18] It was reported that Surendran had been handicapped by resistance to his mode of operation from older party leaders.[19] In July 2016 Surendran asked the Kerala High Court to cancel the Manjeswaram election due to malpractices.[20]
  • In 2019, he lost the Parliament election from Pathanamthitta constituency. Surendran came third behind the INC and CPI(M).
  • In 2021 Assembly elections K Surendran contested from 2 constituencies, Konni and Manjeswaram, where he lost in both constituencies.[21]
Election candidature history
Year Election type Constituency Opponent Result Margin
2009 Lok Sabha Kasaragod P. Karunakaran (CPI(M)) Lost 2,60,040
2011 Kerala Assembly Manjeshwar P. B. Abdul Razak (IUML) Lost 5,828[22]
2014 Lok Sabha Kasaragod P. Karunakaran (CPI(M)) Lost 2,12,138
2016 Kerala Assembly Manjeshwar P. B. Abdul Razak (IUML) Lost 89[23]
2019 Lok Sabha Pathanamthitta Anto Antony (INC) Lost 84,462
2019 (by-election) Kerala Assembly Konni K. U. Jenish Kumar (CPI(M)) Lost 14,313
2021 Kerala Assembly Manjeshwar
Konni		 A. K. M. Ashraf (IUML)
K. U. Jenish Kumar (CPI(M))		 Lost
Lost		 745[24]
29,507[25]

Controversies

In April 2013 Surendran spoke out against dropping the investigation by the Vigilance and Anti-corruption Bureau into the transfer of Kovalam Halcyon Castle and land from India Tourism Development Corporation, speaking of conspiracy and corruption behind the proposal.[26]

In May 2017, Surendran posted on Facebook, an old graphic photo of slaughtered cows lying by the sidewalk of a market place in North India and connected it with the beef fests organised in Kerala, as a protest against central government's ban on the sale of cattle for slaughter.[27][28]

K. Surendran's travel from his home in Kozhikode to Thiruvananthapuram during the COVID-19 pandemic, in which everyone was advised to not travel without any mandatory reasons, has triggered a controversy in Kerala.[29][30]

Delhi Metro Rail Corporation principal adviser E. Sreedharan as the party's Chief Minister candidate for the Assembly elections, Bharatiya Janata Party State president K. Surendran backtracked on his statement.[31][32]

He was involved in an alleged hawala case after the May 2021 assembly elections in Kerala and the top leadership of BJP appointed a three-member “independent” panel to submit reports on the distribution and use of election funds provided to the party in Kerala.[33]

Cultural issues

In November 2014 Surendran dismissed the Kiss of Love protest as "a mere transgender protest". He said the media should have paid less attention, since the only aim of the protest was to create social chaos and confusion.[34]

In October 2015 a photograph of K. Surendran eating a meal was published on Facebook, captioned "Kerala BJP leader eating beef". When the photo went viral, Surendran responded that it was only an onion curry, and said that in an election period he was strictly vegetarian. Later he said he had never eaten beef in his life. He also said it was untrue that beef exports had risen by 15.4% in India during the first year of the BJP government led by Narendra Modi.[35] That month, Shobha Surendran, a member of the national executive, said the BJP did not oppose selling or eating beef in Kerala, but did object to beef festivals being organised in educational institutions.[36]

In May 2016 Surendran asked why some members of Pinarayi Vijayan's cabinet were avoiding use of state-provided vehicles that had the number 13, apparently for superstitious reasons.[37]

Sabarimala protests

K Surendran was a leading figure of Sabarimala protests.[38][39][40] He was charged with 242 police cases[41] and was arrested from Nilakkal on Sabarimala after which he was imprisoned for 21 days.[42][43] Surendran alleged that the Kerala police desecrated his irumudikettu (bag of holy offerings carried by Sabarimala devotees) and manhandled him. He also said that the police mistreated him while in the custody and did not give him water and food. However, Devaswom Minister Kadakampally Surendran refuted these allegations. He then provided a video footage of the incident through his social media.[44] The footage shows the Mudikkettu falling down from Surendran's shoulder after which the Superintendent of Police picks it up and gives back to him while he throws it back to the ground.[45] “He was treated as a VIP in the station and was given a cushioned chair to sit. He used his insulin, he was given water and food. There is CCTV footage of him eating. CCTV footage will not lie, will it?”; the police replied to the other allegations made by Surendran of denying him food and medicine.[46] Kadakampally also accused Surendran of breaking the Hindu traditions by visiting Sabarimala, within a few months of his mother's death.[47]

References

    1. 1 2 "Surendran, the aggressive face of BJP in Kerala, appointed state president". The New Indian Express.
    2. ↑ "BJP appoints K. Surendran as its president in Kerala". The Week.
    3. ↑ Nair, N. j (15 February 2020). "Factionalism the main challenge". The Hindu – via www.thehindu.com.
    4. ↑ "Janmabhumi 17 JANUARY 2020, Sun, 16 Feb 20". Archived from the original on 17 February 2020. Retrieved 17 February 2020.
    5. ↑ "K Surendran assumes charge as Kerala BJP state chief; senior leaders of rival faction stay away". The New Indian Express.
    6. 1 2 3 "Biodata of Mr. K. Surendran (BJP)", Kerala Assembly Election DATABASE, Government of Kerala, retrieved 6 August 2016
    7. 1 2 Amiya Meethal (20 March 2016), "BJP dreams of victory in Manjeswaram", Deccan Chronicle, retrieved 5 August 2016
    8. ↑ Shri K Surendran, BJP, retrieved 5 August 2016
    9. ↑ "Yuva Morcha march turns violent – KERALA". The Hindu. 20 October 2009. Retrieved 25 July 2015.
    10. ↑ M.K, Nidheesh (23 March 2019). "BJP's K Surendran to contest from Kerala's Pathanamthitta". Mint.
    11. ↑ "Live Results: Pathanamthitta Lok Sabha Constituency (KERALA)". News18. Retrieved 14 January 2020.
    12. ↑ "2019 LS polls: Kerala BJP leader K Surendran to resubmit nomination papers today". The New Indian Express.
    13. ↑ "No Decision on 'Metroman' Sreedharan as BJP's CM Candidate in Kerala: Union Minister". The Wire. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
    14. ↑ Kerala Assembly Election Results-- 2011: 1. Manjeshwar, Kerala Assembly, retrieved 6 August 2016
    15. ↑ "Dissidence in BJP over K Surendran being fielded as poll candidate", Madhyamam Daily, New Delhi, 1 February 2014, retrieved 5 August 2016
    16. ↑ N V Ravindranathan Nair (2 February 2014), "Factional Disputes Surface in State BJP", The New Indian Express, retrieved 6 August 2016
    17. ↑ "BJP celebrates, but pained by Surendran's near miss", Manorama Online, 19 May 2016, archived from the original on 26 July 2016, retrieved 5 August 2016
    18. ↑ "BJP loses Manjeswaram with slender 89 votes", The Hindu, 19 May 2016, retrieved 5 August 2016
    19. ↑ "Defeat in Manjeshwaram a shock to BJP", The Times of India, 20 May 2016, retrieved 5 August 2016
    20. ↑ P Sudhakaran (2 July 2016), "Cancel election to Manjeswaram seat: K Surendran In his petition, Surendran alleges widespread malpractices in the election", Mathrubhumi, retrieved 5 August 2016
    21. ↑ "Kerala BJP chief K Surendran loses Konni and Manjeshwar, Sabarimala plank fails". The News Minute. 2 May 2021. Retrieved 2 May 2021.
    22. ↑ "Kerala Assembly Election - 1996". Elections.in. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
    23. ↑ "Kerala Assembly Election - 2016". Elections.in. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
    24. ↑ "Kerala Assembly Election - 2021". Elections.in. Retrieved 16 June 2021.
    25. ↑ "Kerala Assembly Election - 2021". Elections.in. Retrieved 16 June 2021.
    26. ↑ "BJP demands reversal of Vigilance move to drop case over transfer of Kovalam land". The Hindu. 11 April 2013. Retrieved 25 July 2015.
    27. ↑ "Kerala BJP leader K Surendran uses fake cow slaughter photo amid beef protests in state". India Today. 30 May 2017. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
    28. ↑ "Kerala BJP leader courts controversy by posting 'fake photo' on cow slaughter". Asianet News Network Pvt Ltd. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
    29. ↑ "K Surendran's travel to Thiruvananthapuram courts controversy". The New Indian Express.
    30. ↑ "Questions raised as K Surendran travels to Thiruvananthapuram despite lockdown". Mathrubhumi.
    31. ↑ Bureau, ABP News (5 March 2021). "Kerala Assembly Polls: BJP Backtracks On 'Metro Man' E Sreedharan As Its CM Candidate". ABP Live.
    32. ↑ "BJP Kerala chief K Surendran clarifies remark about CM candidate". Deccan Herald. 5 March 2021.
    33. ↑ "Its Kerala unit under hawala cloud, BJP seeks report from 'independent' panel". The Indian Express. 7 June 2021. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
    34. ↑ "Kiss of love: Surendran slur on minorities, calls it transgender protest", Deccan Chronicle, 4 November 2014, retrieved 5 August 2016
    35. ↑ Sachin Jose (14 October 2015), "Kerala: Photo of K Surendran eating beef goes viral; BJP leader swears it was just onion curry", International Business Times, retrieved 5 August 2016
    36. ↑ "Eating beef is okay: Shobha Surendran", The Hindu, 16 October 2015, retrieved 5 August 2016
    37. ↑ "Is Pinarayi afraid of number 13?, asks K Surendran", Mathrubhumi, 26 May 2016, retrieved 5 August 2016
    38. ↑ Dec 2018, ET Online | 08; Ist, 04:23 Pm. "Sabarimala protests: BJP leader Surendran walks out of jail after bail". The Economic Times.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
    39. ↑ "Sabarimala protest HIGHLIGHTS | BJP's K Surendran taken in preventive custody, party to lead protest march at Secretariat on Sunday". The New Indian Express.
    40. ↑ ""You Can't Stop Us," Says BJP Leader Near Sabarimala, Taken Away By Cops". NDTV.com.
    41. ↑ "State affidavit shows 242 cases against Surendran". The Hindu. 3 April 2019 – via www.thehindu.com.
    42. ↑ "K Surendran released from prison after 22 days". Mathrubhumi.
    43. ↑ "Sabarimala row: BJP general secretary K Surendran released from jail after 21 days". The New Indian Express.
    44. ↑ "കൂടുതല്‍ ദൃശ്യങ്ങള്‍ പുറത്തുവിട്ട് കടകംപളളി; ഇരുമുടിക്കെട്ട് രാഷ്ട്രീയ ആയുധമാക്കരുതെന്ന് മന്ത്രി". Indian Express Malayalam (in Malayalam). 18 November 2018. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
    45. ↑ "CCTV visuals show Surendran himself put 'Irumudikkettu' down". Mathrubhumi. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
    46. ↑ "Kerala govt says cops didn't desecrate Surendran's irumudikettu, produce video proof". The News Minute. 18 November 2018. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
    47. ↑ "Kerala Devaswom Minister counters BJP leader Surendran's allegations". The Hindu. 18 November 2018. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
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