Published Apr 08, 2026 | 5:56 PM ⚊ Updated Apr 08, 2026 | 5:56 PM
Sobha Surendran.
Palakkad, often called the Gateway of Kerala, is a key strategic region due to the Palakkad Gap, a natural mountain pass in the Western Ghats that links Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Politically, too, Palakkad has become a gateway for the BJP in the state.
The party made its first breakthrough here by winning the Palakkad Municipality in November 2015, shortly after Narendra Modi rose to power nationally.
For the 2026 Kerala Assembly elections, the BJP has fielded one of its strongest women leaders, Sobha Surendran, from the Palakkad constituency. However, she now faces voter bribery allegations from the Congress, currently under official enquiry adding another layer of challenge to her.
At first glance, Sobha appears well-positioned.
The BJP has a strong grassroots presence across Palakkad, supported by a disciplined cadre system and influential senior leaders. Caste dynamics also favour her, as she belongs to the Ezhava community—a key voter base historically aligned with the CPI(M), which the BJP has successfully begun to chip away.
In past elections, Sobha has repeatedly demonstrated her ability to increase the party’s vote share- from just 22,000 votes in 2011, to 40,076 in 2016, placing the BJP second and pushing CPI(M) to third. In 2021, although she was not fielded, the BJP’s vote share increased further under Metroman E. Sreedharan, thanks to his personal appeal.
Sobha is also notable for her campaign style.
Unlike many leaders who resort to personal attacks, she focuses purely on politics. She did not exploit controversies such as the Rahul Mamkoottathil issue, maintaining a disciplined approach while her opponents, Ramesh Pisharody (Congress) and NMR Razaq (LDF), similarly refrained from personal attacks.
Despite these advantages, Sobha’s toughest battle lies within her own camp. BJP in Palakkad is fragmented, with factions influencing support for candidates. The Krishnakumar faction, which wields significant influence in the district, has largely stayed away from her campaign, leaving only local leaders like Prameela Sasidharan and Sivarajan actively supporting her.
Youth leader Prasanth Sivan’s appointment came only after RSS intervention, highlighting the crucial role of organisational backing, which Sobha has not fully secured.
Internal disputes have previously caused public discord in Palakkad, such as the 2025 controversy over naming a skill development centre for the disabled after RSS founder Dr KB Hedgewar, which exposed clashes between state leaders, local BJP factions and RSS representatives.
For Sobha, electoral success depends not only on her strong personal and political credentials but also on securing support from key party factions and RSS units.
Even in the latest electoral bribery allegations against Sobha, some party leaders suspect it’s an inside betrayal- cheating from within her own troop. Only time will reveal the truth.
