Giving rest to speculations over BJP’s candidate from Pathanamthitta constituency, BJP on Saturday announced candidature of K Surendran from the seat. Pathanamthitta constituency was under the spotlight over protests in Sabarimala Shrine in the constituency, where Hindu devotees protested against Kerala government’s diktats over temple administration.
K Surendran, popularly known by his acronym KS, is a dynamic leader from Kerala. K Surendran was born on 10th March 1970 to a middle-class family in Ulliyeri, Kozikhode and has earned his degree in chemistry from Sri. Guruvayruappan College, Kozhikode, A persuasive speaker, and a visionary leader KS envisions better educational reforms and socio-economic developments in the region and pledges to achieve the same with support from people.
K Surendran came into the spotlight when he spearheaded protests against the Kerala Government over the imposition of unfair rules regarding rituals in Sabarimala. Sabarimala Shrine, with its long ritualistic and cultural history, is considered to be one of the most important pilgrimage sites in India, saw countrywide support from Hindu devotees over preservation of the generations-old tradition in the temple.
K Surendran and other protesters were arrested by Kerala police without any credible reason in this regard. KS and others were stopped by a team of police officials when they were going towards the Sabarimala shrine to offer prayers. The Police insisted KS to return or face arrest to which KS had replied “It is my fundamental right. I will go even if you open fire “after which he and others were arrested and taken to Chittar police station.
KS and others were charged under CrPC 151 and IPC 353 which deals with ‘preventive detention’ and using criminal force to deter a government official to discharge his duties respectively. After spending more than one month in jail KS and 71 other people were later granted bail by the court with strict conditions.
KS has also led several protests and agitations against corruption in Kerala, which includes the Solar Panel Scam where pressure was mounted on then Chief Minister Oommen Chandy due to phone calls made by his personal staff and forged letters which were used by the fraudsters to defraud customers. KS demanded the resignation of Chief Minister Oommen Chandy for which he was confronted with lathi charges and verbal abuses by the police. Some of the other protests that gained KS mass support against corruption include Kovalam Palace Protection, Kerala University Assistant Grade fraud case, Total 4 You, and PSC appointments.
K Surendran is well known for his ability to speak Malayalam, Kannada, and Tulu with precision and eloquence. KS began his political voyage in his student years where he was an active member of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad. KS started his leg with the BJP officially in the year 1993 when he became the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha Wayanad District President, in 2003 he became the state general secretary of the BJP. Over the course of becoming the General Secretary of the BJP, KS has held multiple important positions during his time with ABVP.
A young, Dynamic and visionary leader, K Surendran comes to the 2019 general elections race with decades of experience in public politics and deep understanding of society and culture of Kerala.