Thiruvananthapuram: Tension increases as the battle for Pathanamthitta seat intensifies.  Three members of the BJP are fighting for the coveted seat that houses the contentious shrine Sabarimala in Kerala. 

BJP state chief PS Sreedharan Pillai, state general secretary K Surendran and Union minister Alphons Kannanthanam are all in the race to obtain the Pathanamthitta ticket. 

BJP leaders said that a final decision on the list submitted by state leaders would be taken on Tuesday.  Cadres believe that K Surendran is the apt candidate to contest from Pathanamthitta. As per sources, after the Delhi meeting with the central leaders, it has been finalised that Sreedharan Pillai will be contesting from Pathanamthitta and Alphons Kannanthanam will be given the Ernakulam seat.

Regarding this, sources say, Kannanthanam had shot a letter to BJP chief Amit Shah asking him not to consider him for other constituencies where he does not wish to contest.

Meanwhile, Shoba Surendran and MT Ramesh said that if they don’t get their desired constituencies, they won’t be in the political fray. The central leadership had clarified earlier that significant changes would be needed in the list submitted by the state faction. The BJP is in a dilemma currently as they are not in a situation to announce the names of the candidates. However, sources have been hinted that the names of PK Krishnadas, Sobha Surendran and M T Ramesh are excluded from the list.

The central election committee scheduled for Monday was postponed following BJP leader Manohar Parrikar's death. As per earlier reports, Thushar Vellappally will be contesting in Thrissur and Kummanam Rajasekharan will contest in Thiruvananthapuram.

Sources also said that Wayanad, Idukki, Mavelikkara and Alathur seats would be given to Bharath Dharma Jana Sena (BDJS).