Published May 28, 2026 | 8:34 AM ⚊ Updated May 28, 2026 | 8:34 AM
BJP state president and MLA Rajeev Chandrasekhar (L) congratulating BB Gopakumar after he was made the Legislative Party leader.
Synopsis: Ending days of speculation and internal discussions, the BJP central leadership has named Chathanoor MLA BB Gopakumar as its Legislative Party leader in the Kerala Assembly, overlooking both Rajeev Chandrasekhar and V Muraleedharan. The move is widely seen as a compromise formula aimed at preserving unity after the party’s top leaders failed to reach a consensus on who should lead its three-member Assembly contingent.
Days of uncertainty within the BJP’s Kerala unit came to an end on Wednesday, 27 May, when the party’s central leadership bypassed both state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar and senior leader V Muraleedharan and entrusted the leadership of its Assembly wing to BB Gopakumar.
The decision capped nearly two weeks of internal discussions and competing claims over who should head the BJP’s three-member legislative contingent in the 16th Kerala Assembly.
In a statement on Wednesday, the party announced that Chathanoor MLA Gopakumar had been chosen as the BJP-NDA Legislative Party leader and would lead the alliance’s ranks in the Assembly.
The question of leadership surfaced even before the Assembly’s first sitting on 21 May.
B B Gopakumar
Several rounds of discussions were held by the state leadership, including core committee and leadership meetings on 15 and 16 May. Despite lengthy deliberations, no consensus emerged.
For much of that period, party circles believed Muraleedharan was headed for the post. His organisational experience, seniority and tenure as Union Minister of State for External Affairs and Parliamentary Affairs from 2019 to 2024 made him a strong contender.
Supporters appeared convinced. In the days leading up to the Assembly session, social media pages run by a section of BJP workers and sympathisers circulated congratulatory posters portraying Muraleedharan as the incoming legislature party leader.
Yet the expected announcement never came.
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Sources said a strong section within the party favoured Muraleedharan during internal discussions.
B B Gopakumar’s social media post following the announcement.
Chandrasekhar, however, was not prepared to accept the proposal without reservations.
According to party sources, he argued that assigning the posts of state president and legislature party leader to two different individuals could result in parallel centres of authority within the organisation.
Chandrasekhar was also seen as keen on taking up the role himself. His stand complicated efforts to reach a settlement. What initially appeared to be a straightforward decision gradually turned into a delicate balancing exercise for the central leadership.
While the national leadership was understood to be inclined towards Muraleedharan, it also had to weigh concerns about internal cohesion.
Signs that the issue remained unresolved were visible when the Assembly met for the first time.
BJP’s three MLAs during the core committee meeting
Chandrasekhar occupied the front row on the Opposition benches. Muraleedharan sat behind him, while Gopakumar took a seat in the third row.
The arrangement immediately attracted attention, with many interpreting it as a signal that Chandrasekhar could eventually become legislature party leader.
Party functionaries then dismissed such speculation, insisting that the seating pattern should not be read as an indication of the final decision.
As discussions stretched on without a breakthrough, the party leadership in Delhi looked for a formula that would prevent factional tensions from becoming a public spectacle. The search eventually led to Gopakumar.
Seen as a leader acceptable across factions, the Chathanoor MLA emerged as a neutral choice capable of drawing support from both sides. Party leaders believe the arrangement allows the BJP to move ahead without leaving either camp feeling defeated.
The decision effectively takes the contest out of the Chandrasekhar-Muraleedharan binary that had dominated discussions within the party.
Gopakumar’s elevation marks another step in a political journey that began at the grassroots.
In congratulating him, Chandrasekhar highlighted his progression from an ordinary party worker to Panchayat member, MLA and now legislature party leader.
At the same time, extending his congratulations to Gopakumar, Muraleedharan said the party had honoured a grassroots leader whose rise had been built on years of organisational work and dedication.
He also added that the NDA’s politics of development would now be articulated in the Assembly through Gopakumar’s leadership. “The voice of development and the aspirations of those who voted for change will be heard in the House through Gopakumar,” he said.
The choice has also drawn attention because of developments inside the Assembly over the past week.
The BJP had nominated Gopakumar as its candidate in the Speaker election on 22 May. Party leaders also point to the speech he delivered after the election of Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan as Speaker.
According to BJP leaders, the intervention received positive feedback and reinforced the view that he possesses the communication skills needed for a prominent role in the House.
The leadership post carries added weight because the BJP enters the new Assembly with its strongest-ever legislative presence in Kerala.
A decade ago, the party had only a solitary MLA, O Rajagopal. It now has three members in the House and sees an opportunity to strengthen its position in state politics.
Party leaders argued that the challenge before the BJP is no longer limited to securing electoral breakthroughs. The focus is also on establishing itself as a consistent and effective presence inside the Assembly.
In that context, the performance of the legislature party leader assumes considerable importance.
For now, the debate over who should lead the BJP in the House has been settled. The task before Gopakumar is to convert that settlement into a united and effective legislative front as the party seeks to expand its political space in Kerala.
(Edited by Majnu Babu).
