Thushar Vellapally to contest from Thrissur

Thushar Vellapally, son of SNDP Yogam general secretary Vellapally Natesan and vice president of the SNDP Yogam, announced his nomination for the Lok Sabha polls from the Thrissur constituency in central Kerala as a candidate for the Bharat Dharma Jana Sena (BDJS), a coalition partner of the BJP-led NDA.

The SNDP Yogam represents the Hindu Ezhava community, that constitutes about 20% of Kerala population. The BDJS is contesting at five seats, including Wayanad.

In case Congress president Rahul Gandhi contests from Wayanad, the BJP may take back the seat from BDJS and filed a prominent leader.

The BJP considers Thrissur as one of its few winnable seats in Kerala.

Natesan, on the other hand, has shown allegiance to the CPM.