Kerala polls: Sreesanth sends down a googly, BJP calls no-ball

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: If indications are anything to go by, the BJP state leadership was caught off guard by former Indian pacer S Sreesanth's revelation that he was approached by the BJP central leadership to become a candidate in the upcoming assembly election.

While the cricketer kept telling reporters over and over again that he was planning to try his luck in politics from either Tripunithura or Ernakulam, the BJP state leadership said they were unaware of any such development. "It's news for us. Neither the party has approached Sreesanth nor has he shared any such wish with the state leadership. The party has already almost decided that Thuravoor Viswambharan would be the party candidate in Tripunithura. Can Sreesanth replace Thuravoor? I don't think so," said a former state president of BJP.

There is strong resentment already within the state unit over the way the central leadership takes unilateral decisions. Talks between the BDJS and BJP were always held in Delhi. The state leadership was often left to tackle the unpleasant situation of facing media questions on why they were not taken into confidence regarding poll alliances.

Senior leaders have said the party has almost decided to field film director Rajasenan and actor Kollam Thulasi in the election. Rajasenan may get Nedumangad and Thulasi, Kundara in Kollam.

Though actor Bheeman Raghu has expressed interest in contesting the election under the BJP banner, the party hasn't taken any positive decision. Both Rajasenan and Thulasi are BJP members.