Former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) State president K. Surendran and Anil Antony, who joined the BJP in 2023 after quitting the Congress, have been named among the 16 new national secretaries of the party under the new chief Nitin Nabin. However, A.P. Abdullakutty, who was a national vice-president, has been dropped from the list of national office-bearers announced on Monday (August 17, 2026).

Mr. Surendran, who was replaced as the president of the State unit in 2025, has been angling for a suitable organisational position since then. Mr. Antony, former head of the Congress digital media cell in Keralam and son of former Defence Minister A.K. Antony, had contested unsuccessfully from the Pathanamthitta Lok Sabha constituency soon after his shift.

No leader from the State found their place among the 13 vice-presidents or eight new national general secretaries announced on Monday. Though a few other prominent leaders from Keralam had also hoped for inclusion in the list of national office-bearers, they were overlooked.

Published - August 17, 2026 07:34 pm IST