Two BJP leaders from Kerala, K Surendran and Anil Antony, have secured positions in the party’s revamped national leadership team following the first organisational reshuffle since Nitin Nabin assumed charge as BJP president.

Surendran, who previously served as the Kerala BJP president, has been appointed as a national secretary. His inclusion in the national leadership was largely anticipated by party circles and his supporters. Anil Antony, who joined the BJP after leaving the Congress in 2023, has also retained his position as national secretary, making him the only secretary from the previous team to be reappointed.

The two Kerala leaders are among the 16 national secretaries inducted into Nabin’s team as part of the organisational changes. Their continued presence at the national level is seen as significant for the BJP’s political strategy in Kerala.

However, the reshuffle has also resulted in the exit of another prominent Kerala leader. BJP national vice-president A P Abdullakutty has been excluded from the new list of national office-bearers. Abdullakutty had reportedly been less active in the party’s programmes and organisational activities in recent times.

With his removal, Tariq Mansoor of Uttar Pradesh is now the only Muslim leader among the BJP’s 13 national vice-presidents.