K Janachandran BJP candidate at Vengara

Thiruvananthapuram: The BJP has fielded  Mr K. Janachandran Master, 65,  former Malappuram district president of the party, to fight  the Vengara by-election.  Mr J. P. Nadda, Union Health Minister and secretary, BJP central election committee,  announced his name  in New Delhi on Thursday.  The state leadership recommended  Mr Janachandran’s name after considering the district leadership’s request,  though BJP state general secretary Shoba Surendran was also in the reckoning earlier.

Mr  Janachandran told DC that he will file his  nomination at block office at Vengara at 12.30 p.m. on Friday, the last day for nominations.    “The Vengara by-poll has been forced on the voters due to the internal squabble in the Muslim League and the package which led to P. K. Kunhalikutty being sent to the Lok Sabha. Or else,  the by-poll would not have occurred,”  he said. Mr Janachandran had contested from Vallikunnu in  the 2016 Assembly elections and four times  from Ponnani Lok Sabha constituency.