The demand for the return of Mizoram Governor Kummanam Rajasekharan is on the rise among a section of Kerala BJP workers, who want the party to field him in the Thiruvananthapuram Lok Sabha seat.
Though there is no official decision yet, Kerala BJP spokesperson M S Kumar has come on record to voice party workers' demand for the return of Rajasekharan, who was sent to Mizoram Raj Bhavan while he was heading the state unit in May this year.
"The BJP workers want a senior leader like Rajasekharan to be back in Kerala. Workers want him to contest the Lok Sabha polls from Thiruvananthapuram," Kumar told DH over the phone from Thiruvananthapuram.
Asked whether Rajasekharan would be keen to return to active politics, Kumar said, "He is a leader who is energised when he is amidst people. He loves to work among people."
This is the first time a leader has come on record to talk about Rajasekharan's role in Kerala BJP. DH had on December 3 reported that a "fizzling out" Sabarimala agitation has prompted the RSS to look at the return of former state BJP chief Kummanam Rajasekharan to active politics in Kerala.
Though the demand is rising, sources said, the timing of his return will be decided later. Sources said there are two views with one section wanting him to immediately quit governorship and take up the leadership of Sabarimala agitation.
However, another section feels that Rajasekharan's return now will not make much difference as the protest window is ending by January third week when the temple is shut. This section, sources said, want Rajasekharan to return only by February so that his role in Sabarimala protest is not under the scanner.
Rajasekharan was sent to Mizoram at Prime Minister Narendra Modi's insistence in May. The state RSS leadership was vehemently opposed to it as there was no consultation with them over the issue and BJP chief Amit Shah faced angry state Sangh leaders in a meeting later.
The Sangh leadership believes Rajasekharan's return will help them put up a fight in Thiruvananthapuram and open its Lok Sabha account from the state this time.
Earlier, the Sangh had thought of fielding actor Mohanlal in the seat but the talks did not progress.