:K. Surendran (politician)

{{Infobox officeholder

| image = K. Surendran (Kerala politician).jpg

| caption =

| alt =

| order =

| office = President, Bharatiya Janata Party, Kerala

| election =

| term_start = 2 February 2020

| term_end = 23 March 2025

| predecessor = P. S. Sreedharan Pillai

| successor = Rajeev Chandrasekhar

| birth_name =

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1970|03|10}}

| birth_place = Kozhikode, Kerala, India

| spouse =

| party = Bharatiya Janata Party

| children = 2

| residence = Kasaragod, Kerala

| alma_mater = University of Calicut

| occupation = {{hlist|Politician|social worker}}

| website = {{URL|https://ksurendran.in/}}

}}

Kunnummal Surendran (born 10 March 1970) is an Indian politician from the state of Kerala. He currently serves as the 11th President of the Bharatiya Janata Party in the state.{{Cite web |title=Surendran, the aggressive face of BJP in Kerala, appointed state president |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2020/feb/15/k-surendran-appointed-president-of-bjp-kerala-unit-2103801.html |website=The New Indian Express}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.theweek.in/news/india/2020/02/15/bjp-appoints-k-surendran-as-its-president-in-kerala.html|title=BJP appoints K. Surendran as its president in Kerala|website=The Week}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/factionalism-the-main-challenge/article30831624.ece|title=Factionalism the main challenge|first=N. j|last=Nair|newspaper=The Hindu|date=15 February 2020|via=www.thehindu.com}}{{Cite web |url=http://epaper.janmabhumidaily.com/2556234/Trivandrum/16-February-2020#page/1/1 |title=Janmabhumi 17 JANUARY 2020, Sun, 16 Feb 20 |access-date=17 February 2020 |archive-date=17 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200217070501/http://epaper.janmabhumidaily.com/2556234/Trivandrum/16-February-2020#page/1/1 |url-status=dead }}{{Cite web |title=K Surendran assumes charge as Kerala BJP state chief; senior leaders of rival faction stay away |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2020/feb/22/k-surendran-assumes-charge-as-kerala-bjp-state-chief-senior-leaders-of-rival-faction-stay-away-2107006.html |website=The New Indian Express}}

Early life

K. Surendran was born to Kunjiraman and Kalyani Amma on 10 March 1970 in Kozhikode district in Kerala, India. He earned a B.Sc. Chemistry from Zamorin's Guruvayurappan College, Kozhikode.

He started his political career through Akhila Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad, the student wing of the BJP. During the earlier years of his political career, he held various positions such as Director North Malabar District Co-operative Marketing Society, President, Desa Seva Samskarika Kendram, Founder Director Board member National Yuva Co-operative Society and advisory board member Nehru Yuva Kendra.{{citation|title=Biodata of Mr. K. Surendran (BJP)|work=Kerala Assembly Election DATABASE|publisher=Government of Kerala|url=http://keralaassembly.org/election/biodata.php4?no=56&name=K.%20Surendaran|access-date=6 August 2016|archive-date=3 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160403222208/http://www.keralaassembly.org/election/biodata.php4?no=56&name=K.%20Surendaran|url-status=dead}}

He had moved to Kasaragod many years ago, and learnt Tulu and Kannada languages to better communicate with the local people.{{citation|url=http://www.bjp.org/know-your-candidate/candidate/shri-k-surendran/ |title=Shri K Surendran |publisher=BJP |date= |access-date=5 August 2016}}

Political career

As Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha state president K. Surendran led a march in October 2009 protesting unemployment and a ban on government hiring. Several people were injured when police forcibly prevented the marchers from entering the Secretariat of Kerala.{{cite journal|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/yuva-morcha-march-turns-violent/article165129.ece |title=Yuva Morcha march turns violent – KERALA |journal=The Hindu |date=20 October 2009 |access-date=25 July 2015}}

In the 2019 parliamentary contest in Kerala, Surendran was selected by the Bharatiya Janata Party as their candidate in the Pathanamthitta constituency.{{Cite web|url=https://www.livemint.com/elections/lok-sabha-elections/bjp-s-k-surendran-to-contest-from-kerala-s-pathanamthitta-1553339833323.html|title=BJP's K Surendran to contest from Kerala's Pathanamthitta|first=Nidheesh|last=M.K|date=23 March 2019|website=Mint}} The constituency was won by Anto Antony of Indian National Congress. Surendran came third behind INC and CPI(M).{{Cite web|url=https://www.news18.com/lok-sabha-elections-2019/kerala-pathanamthitta-results-s11p17/|title=Live Results: Pathanamthitta Lok Sabha Constituency (KERALA)|website=News18|access-date=2020-01-14}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2019/apr/04/2019-ls-polls-kerala-bjp-leader-k-surendran-to-resubmit-nomination-papers-today-1959995.html|title=2019 LS polls: Kerala BJP leader K Surendran to resubmit nomination papers today|website=The New Indian Express}}

Surendran was appointed the state president of Bharatiya Janata Party on February 15, 2020.{{Cite web|title=No Decision on 'Metroman' Sreedharan as BJP's CM Candidate in Kerala: Union Minister|url=https://thewire.in/politics/kerala-bjp-pitches-metroman-sreedharan-as-cm-candidate-for-assembly-polls|access-date=2021-03-18|website=The Wire}}

Election attempts

On 16 April 2009 K. Surendran was a Lok Sabha candidate for Kasaragod in the national elections. But he lost.
In the 2011 state elections for the Manjeshwar constituency P. B. Abdul Razak of the Indian Union Muslim League won 37.46% of the votes and K. Surendran of the BJP came second with 33.8% of the votes.{{citation

|title=Kerala Assembly Election Results-- 2011: 1. Manjeshwar |publisher=Kerala Assembly

|url=http://keralaassembly.org/election/assembly_poll.php?year=2011&no=1|access-date=6 August 2016}} P. B. Abdul Razak was elected with a margin of 5,828 votes.{{citation|journal=Deccan Chronicle

|title=BJP dreams of victory in Manjeswaram|author=Amiya Meethal |date=20 March 2016

|url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/politics/300316/bjp-dreams-of-victory-in-manjeswaram.html|access-date=5 August 2016}}

In February 2014 it was reported that senior BJP members in Kerala were opposed to the decision that K.Surendran should again be the BJP's Lok Sabha candidate for the Kasaragod constituency.{{citation|title=Dissidence in BJP over K Surendran being fielded as poll candidate|date=1 February 2014|location=New Delhi

|url=http://www.madhyamam.com/en/node/20417#sthash.rRQCDSkt.dpuf|journal=Madhyamam Daily |access-date=5 August 2016}} His candidacy was apparently announced in Kasaragod by the former national president Venkaiah Naidu before being reviewed by the election committee, drawing criticism from Shobha Surendran of the national executive and from state president V. Muraleedharan.Surendran was lost in Kasargod.{{citation |title=Factional Disputes Surface in State BJP|author=N V Ravindranathan Nair |date=2 February 2014 |url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/thiruvananthapuram/Factional-Disputes-Surface-in-State-BJP/2014/02/02/article2033320.ece|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160819021352/http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/thiruvananthapuram/Factional-Disputes-Surface-in-State-BJP/2014/02/02/article2033320.ece|url-status=dead|archive-date=19 August 2016|access-date=6 August 2016|journal=The New Indian Express}}

In May 2016 Surendran was defeated by a small margin in an election for the Manjeshwar seat.{{citation|title=BJP celebrates, but pained by Surendran's near miss|date=19 May 2016|journal=Manorama Online|url=http://english.manoramaonline.com/in-depth/kerala-assembly-elections-2016/news/bjp-celebrates-but-pained-by-surendran-s-near-miss.html|access-date=5 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160726064837/http://english.manoramaonline.com/in-depth/kerala-assembly-elections-2016/news/bjp-celebrates-but-pained-by-surendran-s-near-miss.html|archive-date=26 July 2016|url-status=dead}} He lost by 89 votes to P. B. Abdul Razak of the Indian Union Muslim League.{{citation |title=BJP loses Manjeswaram with slender 89 votes|work=The Hindu|date=19 May 2016|url=http://www.thehindu.com/elections/kerala2016/bjp-loses-manjeswaram-with-slender-89-votes/article8620313.ece|access-date=5 August 2016}} It was reported that Surendran had been handicapped by resistance to his mode of operation from older party leaders.{{citation|journal=The Times of India |date=20 May 2016 |title=Defeat in Manjeshwaram a shock to BJP |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/elections-2016/kerala-elections-2016/news/Defeat-in-Manjeshwaram-a-shock-to-BJP/articleshow/52355556.cms|access-date=5 August 2016}} In July 2016 Surendran asked the Kerala High Court to cancel the Manjeswaram election due to malpractices.{{citation|author=P Sudhakaran|title=Cancel election to Manjeswaram seat: K Surendran In his petition, Surendran alleges widespread malpractices in the election |date=2 July 2016|work=Mathrubhumi|url=http://english.mathrubhumi.com/news/kerala/cancel-election-to-manjeswaram-seat-k-surendran-english-news-1.1175430|access-date=5 August 2016}}
In 2019, he lost the Parliament election from Pathanamthitta constituency. Surendran came third behind the INC and CPI(M).{{Cite web |date=2019-05-23 |title=Pathanamthitta Lok Sabha Election Results 2019 LIVE Updates: Congress’ Anto Antony wins |url=https://indianexpress.com/elections/pathanamthitta-lok-sabha-election-results-2019-live-winner-runner-up/ |access-date=2024-03-05 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}
In 2021 Assembly elections K Surendran contested from 2 constituencies, Konni and Manjeswaram, where he lost in both constituencies. He was lost to K. U Jenish Kumar in Konni [https://www.timesnownews.com/elections/konni-kerala-election-result-2021 [²]] and to A. K. M Ashraf in Manjeswaram[https://www.timesnownews.com/elections/manjeshwar-kerala-election-result-202 [²]]
In the 2024 Lok Sabha Elections, he contested as the BJP candidate from the Wayanad constituency, facing off against Rahul Gandhi, and finished in third place.{{Cite web |date=2024-06-04 |title=Wayanad Lok Sabha Election Results 2024 Highlights: Rahul Gandhi emerges victorious by 3,34,535 votes, defeats CPI’s Annie Raja |url=https://www.financialexpress.com/india-news/wayanad-kerala-lok-sabha-election-result-2024-live-updates-rahul-gandhi-k-surendran-annie-raja-eci-trend-latest-update/3511054/ |access-date=2024-06-05 |website=Financialexpress |language=en}}{{Cite news |last=Manoj |first=E. M. |date=2024-06-04 |title=Rahul Gandhi scripts landslide victory again in Wayanad |url=https://www.thehindu.com/elections/lok-sabha/lok-sabha-election-results-2024-updates-rahul-gandhi-scripts-landslide-victory-again-in-wayanad/article68251539.ece |access-date=2024-06-05 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}

class="sortable wikitable" \|+Election candidature history
\|Election ! \|Year ! colspan = "2" \|Party ! \|Constituency ! colspan = "3" \|Opponent ! \|Result ! \|Margin
rowspan = "4"\|Loksabha \|2009 \|{{Party name with color\|Bharatiya Janata Party}} \|Kasaragod \|{{party name with color\|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}} \|P. Karunakaran \|{{no2\|Lost}} \|{{no2\|2,60,040}}
2014 \|{{Party name with color\|Bharatiya Janata Party}} \|Kasaragod \|{{party name with color\|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}} \|P. Karunakaran \|{{no2\|Lost}} \|{{no2\|2,12,138}}
2019 \|{{Party name with color\|Bharatiya Janata Party}} \|Pathanamthitta \|{{party name with color\|Indian National Congress}} \|Anto Antony \|{{no2\|Lost}} \|{{no2\|84,462}}
2024 \|{{Party name with color\|Bharatiya Janata Party}} \|Wayanad \|{{party name with color\|Indian National Congress}} \|Rahul Gandhi \|{{no2\|Lost}} \|{{no2\|5,06,400}}
rowspan = "5"\|Kerala Legislative Assembly \|2011 \|{{Party name with color\|Bharatiya Janata Party}} \|Manjeshwar \|{{party name with color\|Indian Union Muslim League}}	P. B. Abdul Razak \|{{no2\|Lost}} \|{{no2\|5,828}}{{cite web \|url=http://www.elections.in/kerala/assembly-constituencies/1996-election-results.html \|title=Kerala Assembly Election - 1996 \|publisher=Elections.in \|accessdate=2021-05-20}}
2016 \|{{Party name with color\|Bharatiya Janata Party}} \|Manjeshwar \|{{party name with color\|Indian Union Muslim League}}	P. B. Abdul Razak \|{{no2\|Lost}} \|{{no2\|89}} {{cite web \|url=http://www.elections.in/kerala/assembly-constituencies/2016-election-results.html \|title=Kerala Assembly Election - 2016 \|publisher=Elections.in \|accessdate=2021-05-20}}
2019 (by-election) \|{{Party name with color\|Bharatiya Janata Party}} \|Konni \|{{party name with color\|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}} \|K. U. Jenish Kumar \|{{no2\|Lost}} \|{{no2\|14,313}}
2021 \|{{Party name with color\|Bharatiya Janata Party}} \|Manjeshwar \|{{party name with color\|Indian Union Muslim League}} \|A. K. M. Ashraf \|{{no2\|Lost}} \|{{no2\|745}}{{cite web \|url=https://results.eci.gov.in/Result2021/ConstituencywiseS111.htm?ac=1\|title=Kerala Assembly Election - 2021 \|publisher=Elections.in \|accessdate=2021-06-16}}
2021 \|{{Party name with color\|Bharatiya Janata Party}} \|Konni \|{{party name with color\|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}} \|K. U. Jenish Kumar \|{{no2\|Lost}} \|{{no2\|29,507}}{{cite web \|url=https://results.eci.gov.in/Result2021/ConstituencywiseS11114.htm?ac=114\|title=Kerala Assembly Election - 2021 \|publisher=Elections.in \|accessdate=2021-06-16}}

class="sortable wikitable"

|+Election candidature history

|Election

! |Year

! colspan = "2" |Party

! |Constituency

! colspan = "3" |Opponent

! |Result

! |Margin

rowspan = "4"|Loksabha

|2009

|{{Party name with color|Bharatiya Janata Party}}

|Kasaragod

|{{party name with color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}

|P. Karunakaran

|{{no2|Lost}}

|{{no2|2,60,040}}

2014

|{{Party name with color|Bharatiya Janata Party}}

|Kasaragod

|{{party name with color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}

|P. Karunakaran

|{{no2|Lost}}

|{{no2|2,12,138}}

2019

|{{Party name with color|Bharatiya Janata Party}}

|Pathanamthitta

|{{party name with color|Indian National Congress}}

|Anto Antony

|{{no2|Lost}}

|{{no2|84,462}}

2024

|{{Party name with color|Bharatiya Janata Party}}

|Wayanad

|{{party name with color|Indian National Congress}}

|Rahul Gandhi

|{{no2|Lost}}

|{{no2|5,06,400}}

rowspan = "5"|Kerala Legislative Assembly

|2011

|{{Party name with color|Bharatiya Janata Party}}

|Manjeshwar

|{{party name with color|Indian Union Muslim League}}

P. B. Abdul Razak

|{{no2|Lost}}

|{{no2|5,828}}{{cite web |url=http://www.elections.in/kerala/assembly-constituencies/1996-election-results.html |title=Kerala Assembly Election - 1996 |publisher=Elections.in |accessdate=2021-05-20}}

2016

|{{Party name with color|Bharatiya Janata Party}}

|Manjeshwar

|{{party name with color|Indian Union Muslim League}}

P. B. Abdul Razak

|{{no2|Lost}}

|{{no2|89}} {{cite web |url=http://www.elections.in/kerala/assembly-constituencies/2016-election-results.html |title=Kerala Assembly Election - 2016 |publisher=Elections.in |accessdate=2021-05-20}}

2019 (by-election)

|{{Party name with color|Bharatiya Janata Party}}

|Konni

|{{party name with color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}

|K. U. Jenish Kumar

|{{no2|Lost}}

|{{no2|14,313}}

2021

|{{Party name with color|Bharatiya Janata Party}}

|Manjeshwar

|{{party name with color|Indian Union Muslim League}}

|A. K. M. Ashraf

|{{no2|Lost}}

|{{no2|745}}{{cite web |url=https://results.eci.gov.in/Result2021/ConstituencywiseS111.htm?ac=1|title=Kerala Assembly Election - 2021 |publisher=Elections.in |accessdate=2021-06-16}}

2021

|{{Party name with color|Bharatiya Janata Party}}

|Konni

|{{party name with color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}

|K. U. Jenish Kumar

|{{no2|Lost}}

|{{no2|29,507}}{{cite web |url=https://results.eci.gov.in/Result2021/ConstituencywiseS11114.htm?ac=114|title=Kerala Assembly Election - 2021 |publisher=Elections.in |accessdate=2021-06-16}}

Controversies

In April 2013, Surendran spoke out against dropping the investigation by the Vigilance and Anti-corruption Bureau into the transfer of Kovalam Halcyon Castle and land from India Tourism Development Corporation, speaking of conspiracy and corruption behind the proposal.{{cite journal|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/bjp-demands-reversal-of-vigilance-move-to-drop-case-over-transfer-of-kovalam-land/article4606434.ece |title=BJP demands reversal of Vigilance move to drop case over transfer of Kovalam land |journal=The Hindu |date=11 April 2013 |access-date=25 July 2015}}

In May 2017, Surendran posted on Facebook, an old graphic photo of slaughtered cows lying by the sidewalk of a market place in North India and connected it with the beef fests organised in Kerala, as a protest against central government's ban on the sale of cattle for slaughter.{{Cite magazine|date=May 30, 2017 |title=Kerala BJP leader K Surendran uses fake cow slaughter photo amid beef protests in state|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/fyi/story/kerala-beef-ban-protest-cow-slaughter-k-surendran-fake-photo-979967-2017-05-30|access-date=2021-03-13|magazine=India Today|language=en}}{{Cite web|title=Kerala BJP leader courts controversy by posting 'fake photo' on cow slaughter|url=https://newsable.asianetnews.com/kerala/bjp-leader-surendran-controversy-fake-photo-cow-slaughter|access-date=2021-03-13|website=Asianet News Network Pvt Ltd|language=en}}

K. Surendran's travel from his home in Kozhikode to Thiruvananthapuram during the COVID-19 pandemic, in which everyone was advised to not travel without any mandatory reasons, has triggered a controversy in Kerala.{{Cite web|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2020/apr/04/k-surendrans-travel-to-thiruvananthapuram-courts-controversy-2125507.html|title=K Surendran's travel to Thiruvananthapuram courts controversy|website=The New Indian Express}}{{Cite web|url=https://english.mathrubhumi.com/news/kerala/questions-raised-as-k-surendran-travels-to-thiruvananthapuram-despite-lockdown-1.4663821|title=Questions raised as K Surendran travels to Thiruvananthapuram despite lockdown|website=Mathrubhumi}}

Delhi Metro Rail Corporation principal adviser E. Sreedharan as the party's Chief Minister candidate for the Assembly elections, Bharatiya Janata Party State president K. Surendran backtracked on his statement.{{Cite web|url=https://news.abplive.com/news/india/kerala-assembly-polls-bjp-backtracks-on-metro-man-e-sreedharan-as-its-cm-candidate-1447143|title=Kerala Assembly Polls: BJP Backtracks On 'Metro Man' E Sreedharan As Its CM Candidate|first=ABP News|last=Bureau|date=5 March 2021|website=ABP Live}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.deccanherald.com/national/south/bjp-kerala-chief-k-surendran-clarifies-remark-about-cm-candidate-958475.html|title=BJP Kerala chief K Surendran clarifies remark about CM candidate|date=5 March 2021|website=Deccan Herald}}

He was involved in an alleged hawala case after the May 2021 assembly elections in Kerala and the top leadership of BJP appointed a three-member “independent” panel to submit reports on the distribution and use of election funds provided to the party in Kerala.{{Cite web|date=2021-06-07|title=Its Kerala unit under hawala cloud, BJP seeks report from 'independent' panel|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/kerala-bjp-k-surendran-hawala-case-use-of-election-funds-independent-panel-7347094/|access-date=2021-06-07|website=The Indian Express|language=en}}

Cultural issues

In November 2014, Surendran dismissed the Kiss of Love protest as "a mere transgender protest".

He said the media should have paid less attention, since the only aim of the protest was to create social chaos and confusion.{{citation

|title=Kiss of love: Surendran slur on minorities, calls it transgender protest|date=4 November 2014|work=Deccan Chronicle

|url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/141104/nation-crime/article/kiss-love-surendran-slur-minorities-calls-it-transgender-protest|access-date=5 August 2016}}

In October 2015, a photograph of K. Surendran eating a meal was published on Facebook, captioned "Kerala BJP leader eating beef".

When the photo went viral, Surendran responded that it was only an onion curry, and said that in an election period he was strictly vegetarian. Later he said he had never eaten beef in his life.

He also said it was untrue that beef exports had risen by 15.4% in India during the first year of the BJP government led by Narendra Modi.{{citation|journal=International Business Times

|title=Kerala: Photo of K Surendran eating beef goes viral; BJP leader swears it was just onion curry|date=14 October 2015|author=Sachin Jose

|url=http://www.ibtimes.co.in/kerala-photo-k-surendran-eating-beef-goes-viral-bjp-leader-swears-it-was-just-onion-curry-650522#u0BJOd2BJ1XC55zM.99|access-date=5 August 2016}}

That month, Sobha Surendran, a member of the national executive, said the BJP did not oppose selling or eating beef in Kerala, but did object to beef festivals being organised in educational institutions.{{citation

|title=Eating beef is okay: Shobha Surendran|work=The Hindu|date=16 October 2015

|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/eating-beef-is-okay-shobha-surendran/article7763821.ece|access-date=5 August 2016}}

In May 2016, Surendran asked why some members of Pinarayi Vijayan's cabinet were avoiding use of state-provided vehicles that had the number 13, apparently for superstitious reasons.{{citation|title=Is Pinarayi afraid of number 13?, asks K Surendran|date=26 May 2016|journal=Mathrubhumi

|url=http://english.mathrubhumi.com/news/kerala/is-pinarayi-afraid-of-number-13-asks-k-surendran-english-news-1.1086907|access-date=5 August 2016}}

Sabarimala protests

K Surendran was a leading figure of Sabarimala protests.{{Cite web|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/sabarimala-protests-bjp-leader-surendran-walks-out-of-jail-after-bail/videoshow/67000773.cms|title=Sabarimala protests: BJP leader Surendran walks out of jail after bail|first1=ET Online | 08|last1=Dec 2018|first2=04:23 Pm|last2=Ist|website=The Economic Times}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/live/2018/nov/17/sabarimala-protest-highlights--bjps-k-surendran-taken-in-preventive-custody-party-to-lead-protest-1899439.html|title=Sabarimala protest HIGHLIGHTS | BJP's K Surendran taken in preventive custody, party to lead protest march at Secretariat on Sunday|website=The New Indian Express}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.ndtv.com/kerala-news/you-cant-stop-us-says-bjp-leader-near-sabarimala-taken-away-by-cops-1949101|title="You Can't Stop Us," Says BJP Leader Near Sabarimala, Taken Away By Cops|website=NDTV.com}} He was charged with 242 police cases{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/state-affidavit-shows-242-cases-against-surendran/article26724921.ece|title=State affidavit shows 242 cases against Surendran|newspaper=The Hindu |date=3 April 2019|via=www.thehindu.com}} and was arrested from Nilakkal on Sabarimala after which he was imprisoned for 21 days.{{Cite web|url=https://english.mathrubhumi.com/news/kerala/k-surendran-released-from-prison-after-22-days-kerala-1.3376619|title=K Surendran released from prison after 22 days|website=Mathrubhumi}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2018/dec/08/sabarimala-row-bjp-general-secretary-k-surendran-surendran-released-from-jail-after-21-days-1908897.html|title=Sabarimala row: BJP general secretary K Surendran released from jail after 21 days|website=The New Indian Express}} Surendran alleged that the Kerala police desecrated his irumudikettu (bag of holy offerings carried by Sabarimala devotees) and manhandled him. He also said that the police mistreated him while in the custody and did not give him water and food. However, Devaswom Minister Kadakampally Surendran refuted these allegations. He then provided a video footage of the incident through his social media.{{Cite web|date=2018-11-18|title=കൂടുതല്‍ ദൃശ്യങ്ങള്‍ പുറത്തുവിട്ട് കടകംപളളി; ഇരുമുടിക്കെട്ട് രാഷ്ട്രീയ ആയുധമാക്കരുതെന്ന് മന്ത്രി|url=https://malayalam.indianexpress.com/kerala-news/kadakampally-surendran-lashes-out-at-k-surendran-for-throwing-irumudikkettu/|access-date=2021-03-13|website=Indian Express Malayalam|language=ml}} The footage shows the Mudikkettu falling down from Surendran's shoulder after which the Superintendent of Police picks it up and gives back to him while he throws it back to the ground.{{Cite web|title=CCTV visuals show Surendran himself put 'Irumudikkettu' down|url=https://english.mathrubhumi.com/videos/news/news-in-videos/cctv-visuals-show-surendran-himself-put-irumudikkettu-down-1.3322442|access-date=2021-03-13|website=Mathrubhumi|language=en|archive-date=30 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210930193802/https://english.mathrubhumi.com/videos/news/news-in-videos/cctv-visuals-show-surendran-himself-put-irumudikkettu-down-1.3322442|url-status=dead}} “He was treated as a VIP in the station and was given a cushioned chair to sit. He used his insulin, he was given water and food. There is CCTV footage of him eating. CCTV footage will not lie, will it?”; the police replied to the other allegations made by Surendran of denying him food and medicine.{{Cite web|date=2018-11-18|title=Kerala govt says cops didn't desecrate Surendran's irumudikettu, produce video proof|url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/kerala-govt-says-cops-didnt-desecrate-surendrans-irumudikettu-produce-video-proof-91778|access-date=2021-03-13|website=The News Minute|language=en}} Kadakampally also accused Surendran of breaking the Hindu traditions by visiting Sabarimala, within a few months of his mother's death.{{Cite news|date=2018-11-18|title=Kerala Devaswom Minister counters BJP leader Surendran's allegations|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/kerala-devaswom-minister-counters-bjp-leader-surendrans-allegations/article25530457.ece|access-date=2021-03-13|issn=0971-751X}}

References

External links

{{Official website|www.ksurendran.in}}

Category:1970 births

Category:Living people

Category:Bharatiya Janata Party politicians from Kerala

Category:People from Kozhikode district