The BJP has zeroed in on K. R. Rajagopal (Perumbavoor), son of former Minister K. G. R. Kartha, as its candidate for the by-election to the Piravom Assembly constituency.
The Ernakulam district committee of the party recommended his name after State general secretary A. N. Radhakrishnan and Ernakulam district president P. J. Thomas, who had been short-listed for the candidature, expressed their unwillingness to enter the fray.
The national leadership and meeting of the State office-bearers of party here on Wednesday are expected to take the final call on the recommendation.
In the last elections (2011), M. N. Madhu of the BJP had won 4234 votes in the constituency when the victory margin of T. M. Jacob (Kerala Congress-Jacob), who was elected from the constituency, was only 157 votes. Mr. T. M. Jacob’s nearest rival was M. J. Jacob of CPI (M). This time, Mr. Jacob’s son Anoop is the UDF candidate and M. J. Jacob is the LDF candidate.
